Stormy Daniels, key witness against the former US president, in the courtroom

Stormy Daniels, whose account of a sexual encounter with Donald Trump after a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006 led to the first criminal trial in history of an American president, took the stand today and told jurors their meeting and subsequent invitation to dinner by the current Republican leader. The porn star, who in 2016 received $130,000 from Trump’s lawyer in exchange for his silence, she appeared nervous as she began her testimony, speaking so fast that the prosecutor questioning her had to repeatedly ask her to slow down. The defendant, Donald Trump, also attended the hearing and chatted with his lawyer the entire time.

After taking the oath, Daniels answered various questions about the work she has undertaken: exotic dancer, nude model and then porn actress. The 45-year-old revealed that she is in the process of finishing two books, which will be released next year, then spoke about the meeting with Trump, revealing that the man introduced himself to her wearing satin pajamas: the woman was 27 at the time and was still working for an adult film company. Trump was “as old as my father,” she said, and the flirtation “was very brief.” Daniels also said she asked Trump about his wife, Melania, who he had married the year before her, and he told her not to worry about her because “they weren’t even sleeping in the same room.” The porn star alluded to how Donald Trump’s status in relation to hers created an intimidating power dynamic, explaining that the hotel room where she had sex with the tycoon was “bigger than his three previous homes “.

Yesterday, meanwhile, Deborah Tarasoff, a former Trump Organization accountant, testified that the tycoon personally signed some of the checks with which he reimbursed his handyman lawyer Michael Cohen, who had personally paid the porn star. Checks also shown to the jury. The deposition refuted the defense argument that Trump was not involved in the transactions.

What is Donald Trump accused of?

Donald Trump is accused of falsifying his financial statements in 2016 to hide $130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about their relationship. There are 34 charges, attempts to postpone the hearings have failed and this is the only proceeding that could be closed before the vote on November 5th.

In particular, everything revolves around a fact that has already been established and has become final: Michael Cohen, Trump’s lawyer at the time, paid the porn star and was then reimbursed by Trump, who listed that money as legal expenses. Cohen was sentenced to three years in 2018 for the same affair and for lying to Congress: now he will be one of the key witnesses in the trial, with the defense trying in every way to discredit him. Trump himself has already started, like him: “Cohen and Daniels are two liars – he said -, two bags of rubbish”.

What Donald Trump risks

If he were convicted, Trump would risk up to four years in prison for each charge, but many experts rule out such an outcome: he would most likely remain free to continue his electoral campaign, pending the appeal. Moreover, a conviction would not jeopardize his status as a candidate – and even as president, if he were to win the next elections for the White House.