The attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels, Keith Davidson, took the stand as attorneys for Donald Trump tried to paint him as an extortionist who helped leverage sex tapes into multi-million dollar payouts. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg watched a forensics specialist explain how data is extracted from electronic devices, including text messages between various individuals, including Hope Hicks, Allen Weisselberg, and Trump himself. Trump has denied claims made by McDougal and Daniels. Trump’s lawyer argued that he should be able to respond to attacks by Cohen and President Biden’s remarks, while prosecutors argued that Trump’s statements were creating an “air of menace.”
Davidson provided crucial insight into how the payments to Daniels and McDougal came about, giving jurors a detailed look at the process. Trump has been fundraising off the gag order imposed on him, claiming he has been “fully gagged” and urging supporters to send him money. The attention on the case and the media coverage were bemoaned by Trump’s legal team, with Blanche arguing that every whisper to their client is live-streamed on social media. Prosecutors argued that Trump’s statements were “corrosive” to the case, leading to a $9,000 fine for willful violations of the court’s order.
Davidson explained to jurors how he issued carefully worded denials on Daniels’s behalf, maintaining that they were technically correct and truthful. He resisted any characterization of the payment to Daniels as a “payoff,” instead referring to it as a “settlement.” Trump’s attorney Emil Bove questioned Davidson’s involvement in various scandals and tabloid stories, including an alleged extortion scheme around a sex tape and settlements with other celebrities like Charlie Sheen. Davidson denied any wrongdoing and maintained the validity of the settlements.
Trump watched closely as the forensics expert, Doug Daus, testified about the accuracy of audio recordings of phone calls, including conversations between Cohen and Davidson. Cohen recorded a conversation with Davidson talking about the McDougal deal, as well as a conversation with Trump discussing the intent to set up a company to purchase the rights to the story. Trump was heard telling Cohen to “pay with cash” in one of the recordings played for the jury. The defense attempted to sow doubt about the nature of the Daniels deal and Davidson’s motivations through cross-examination, highlighting discrepancies in the timing of events.
As the trial continues, the focus remains on the negotiations and payments made to Daniels and McDougal, as well as Trump’s involvement in the deals. The defense and prosecution are each presenting their case, with Trump’s legal team arguing that he should be able to respond to attacks against him, while prosecutors maintain that his statements are undermining the case. The media attention and fundraising efforts related to the case have also been subjects of contention in the courtroom, adding to the drama surrounding the trial.
