74/ Katie's Sidebar:
IMO it was a bad defense strategy to try to "slut-shame" Stormy Daniels today on cross for her professional choices. Directly accusing her of being a liar because she works in the adult film industry was a poor decision.
74/ Katie's Sidebar:
IMO it was a bad defense strategy to try to "slut-shame" Stormy Daniels today on cross for her professional choices. Directly accusing her of being a liar because she works in the adult film industry was a poor decision.
75/ Phang:
The defense suggests that just because Daniels chooses to be a part of that industry, then she couldn't possibly be offended by a half-naked, "older" man who invited her to dinner, began the evening in satin pajamas, and then stripped his clothes to a t-shirt and boxers when she was in the bathroom.
76/ Phang:
The cross of Stormy Daniels now resumes after the quick morning recess.
NECHELES: “Am I correct that you signed the non disclosure agreement in this case with legal advice?” DANIELS: Correct NECHELES: And you did not negotiate that NDA DANIELS: Not directly NECHELES: “And your lawyer dealt with Michael Cohen” DANIELS: Yes NECHELES: “And Michael Cohen paid you, not mr trump” DANIELS: “My attorney paid me”
77/ Phang:
NECHELES: You understand Pres Trump is charged with a crime based on how it was labeled? 🤭DANIELS: “There are a lot of indictments” (laughter) NECHELES: You changed your story many times because you never had an affair with President Trump OBJECTION-SUSTAINED
The cross is now over.
78/ Weissmann:
Stormy says in response to questioning about whether she made up her stories like she does in her sex films:
(1) the sex in those films is real like the sex with Trump ("that's why it is porn and not a B movie"),
and (2) "if that story was untrue, I would have written it to be a lot better."
79/ Now, via McB:
Necheles goes in for the kill: "Isn't the reason you changed your story many times is because you never had an affair with President Trump, and that you've been making money off that story for 12 years?"
Objection—sustained. Sidebar.
McB: I, for one, will be very much looking forward to reading this sidebar in the transcript later.
80/ McB:
And we're back.
Hoffinger begins redirect: Defense counsel asked you quite a lot of questions yesterday and today as well about whether fear played into you signing the NDA?
Objection—overruled.
Your attorney friend advised you about "hiding in plain view," can you explain that? Hoffinger asks.
81/ McB:
A: it just means that hiding in the open, nothing will happen to you if everyone is watching.
Q: So part of entering into the NDA was to make sure it was all documented?
A: Yes
Hoffinger goes on to clarify why then she also took the money?
👉🏼Well, everyone is happy to take money, Daniels responds, in a relatable tone.
Now we see the texts between Rodriguez and Howard (whom Daniels says she doesn't know) once again.
82/ And I'm all caught up.
McB:
Q: You indicated the InTouch article was a "very light article" for entertainment purposes?
A: Yes.
Hoffinger shows the article to the witness and counsel, especially the very bottom of it, which says: "This interview has been lightly edited."
83/ McB:
Necheles asked you a lot of things that you did and didn't say in 2018, Hoffinger says, you didn't tell every single detail to Anderson Cooper? (No) But you mentioned a lot of details?
Objection, leading—sustained.
Hoffinger tries to introduce an exhibit, but objection, sidebar.
84/ Pagliery's take:
Manhattan DA investigative division chief Susan Hoffinger is speeding through her follow up questions.
She easily points out that the In Touch article included a disclaimer that it was edited for length/clarity.
85/ McB:
We're back, and Merchan says, "Ms Hoffinger, you can clarify to the extent that we discussed, and to that extent only."
Q: Defense asked about certain things you didn't tell Anderson Cooper, but you told him a lot of things didn't you?
Objection—overruled.
86/ McB:
Q: But you did tell him you had sex with Trump, and provide details about the room?
A: I did.
Q: And you said Trump never wanted to keep it confidential?
Objection—please approach.
👉🏼"I'm so hungry," Daniels whispers, sounding bored at this stop-and-go redirect rhythm.
87/ Press:
Hoffinger: You told Anderson Cooper you had sex with Mr. Trump & what happened in the room
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled. Please approach.
[Side bar, then]
Prosecutor: You told Anderson Cooper a lot
Stormy Daniels: I did
Klasfeld:
As Hoffinger rattles off other consistencies, Necheles continues to object, at one point saying the interview isn't in evidence.
The judge continues to overrule her, until there's a sidebar conference.
88/ McB:
Q: So you did tell Anderson Cooper about your encounter and other encounters with Trump?
A: I did.
Hoffinger shows Daniels' tweet "I'll dance down the street when he's 'selected'"—a reply to a tweet from "Intergalactic Gurl" calling Daniels a "disgusting degenerate prostitute"
The initial tweet to Daniels said: "Good luck walking down the streets after this"—which Daniels took to be a threat.
It also went on to say that no wonder the father of Daniels' daughter had left her.
90/ McB:
Hoffinger points out that for each of these tweets, Necheles never asked about the initial tweet, only Daniels' replies.
In another tweet someone calls Daniels and "aging harlet"—these are actually two "tame" examples of the harassment, according to Daniels.
91/ McB:
👉🏼We see Trump's post on Truth Social: "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU"
👉🏼Daniels understood it to be about her, because it was around the time of Trump prevailing in the FL defamation case involving Daniels.
Q: You had nothing to do with the charges in this case, you did not testify to the grand jury?
A: I did not.
👉🏼So far it's been an unfussy, tidy, effective redirect from Hoffinger.
92/ Press:
Prosecutor: You didn't testify to the grand jury in this case, did you?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Stormy Daniels: I did not.
Prosecutor: In Mr. Trump's lawyer's papers in 2017 he confirmed Michael Cohen was reimbursed?
A: Yes
93/ Klasfeld:
Q: Have you been telling lies about Mr. Trump or the truth about Mr. Trump?
A: The truth.
94/ Press:
Prosecutor: Has your telling the truth about what happened with Mr. Trump been net positive or net negative in your life?
Trump's lawyer Necheles: Objection!
Justice Merchan: Overruled.
Stormy Daniels: Net negative.
Prosecutor: Nothing further
95/ McB:
Hoffinger asks Daniels to clarify why this whole ordeal has cost her a lot of money: I've had to hire security, take extra precautions for my daughter, move her to a safe place to live, had to move a couple of times, lost judgment on NDA case and owe attorney's fees
Hoffinger: Has your public telling the truth about Trump been net positive or net negative in your life?
Objection—overruled.
Daniels: Negative.
"Nothing further," says Hoffinger.
96/ Pagliery:
I'd like to point out something that didn't make it into my thread on Tuesday. Internet went down for a while.
It's about the notable reactions in the courtroom—from Trump lawyer Alina Habba.
She's not a listed lawyer in this case. She's morphed into a MAGA spokeswoman. Still.
97/ Pagliery:
On Tuesday, Daniels talked about what resulted from the WSJ first drawing attention to her.
"It blew my cover, I guess.. to everyone that I rode horses with, everyone in my neighborhood, everyone in my daughter's friends."
At that point, I turned to Habba. And guess what I saw.
98/ Pagliery:
Habba was smiling, rocking back & forth as she quietly mouthed something to her left, where Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn was sitting.
This was as Daniels said, "We were ostracized from her play groups, from the riding stable, from horse shows—her dad lost his gig in his band."
99/ McB:
Necheles is back up immediately.
We see the Intergalactic Gurl tweet again, and asks Daniels whether this kind of thing happens a lot on twitter.
We see another Daniels reply: "you sound even dumber than he does..."
Q: That's you being nasty also right?
A: Yes.
Q: Someone you don't even know, you're calling them names? You prided yourself in your witty answers? You were attacking them right back?
A: I was defending myself
100/ McB:
As Necheles displays more tweets of public sparring between Daniels and strangers on the internet, I'm once again reminded of the great lesson in digital permanence that has continued to be prominent in this trial since jury selection.
101/ Klasfeld:
Stormy Daniels' voice gets progressively softer during the exchange about the attacks on her — but she's still collected.
Press:
Trump's lawyer Necheles: You were called an aging harlot - nasty, right? And you jabbed back and said you made a million dollars and just paid for your new ranch
Stormy Daniels: Yes I defend myself on Twitter. And I pay my bills.
102/ McB:
Back to "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU"
Q: This doesn't say your name, does it?
A: No.
Q: Do you realize at the time there was a Republican PAC coming after him?
A: No.
No further questions, and Hoffinger is back at the lectern.
Hoffinger displays a splitscreen: People's 408A, Trump's Truth Social post calling Daniels "horseface" and "sleazebag" next to Exhibit J2, a tweet of Daniels.
Both within six days of each other.
Nothing further, and Daniels steps down.
103/ McB:
NEWS: Stormy Daniels has finished her testimony.
"People, please call your next witness," says Justice Merchan.
"The People call Rebecca Manochio."
Klasfeld:
Next witness: Rebecca Manochio, the Trump Organization's former executive assistant and current junior bookkeeper.
"I was compelled to testify," she confirms.