Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has recently been in the limelight not only for his plans to run for president again in 2024 but also due to the multiple lawsuits he is currently facing. One of the most prominent lawsuits revolves around a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump.
Last week, Daniels took the stand and divulged some intimate details about Trump, including information about his marriage with Melania Trump. These revelations have shed light on the dynamics of their relationship and have become a focal point of public interest.
According to a new book by New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers, Melania was deeply unhappy when the allegations about the hush money payment came to light in 2018. She wanted to humiliate her husband for his actions and even refused to accompany him on a trip abroad, choosing instead to travel to Mar-a-Lago without him. Melania’s press secretary at the time, Stephanie Grisham, confirmed that the first lady was angry with Trump and wanted to send a powerful message.
During the trial, Stormy Daniels disclosed a surprising detail about the Trumps’ marriage – they didn’t sleep in the same room. This revelation has fueled further curiosity about the inner workings of their relationship. Daniels also mentioned that Trump made a controversial comment by comparing her to his daughter Ivanka, describing her as “smart, blonde, and beautiful.” This comment has raised eyebrows and added another layer of complexity to the dynamics of the Trump family.
Despite her private nature, Melania Trump has faced her fair share of challenges in recent years, including her husband’s legal battles. While she has chosen to focus on supporting their son Barron and shielding him from media scrutiny, she closely follows the trial proceedings. According to her former press secretary, Melania pays attention to the evidence presented and values concrete proof.
Although Melania may not be as visible as some of the previous first ladies, her role in her husband’s presidential campaigns has sparked discussion. Her primary focus has been on their son and the success of the country. Melania’s love for the United States and her strong desire to see it thrive are what drive her.
As Donald Trump’s trial continues to unfold, Melania Trump will remain steadfastly by his side, supporting both her husband and the country they both love. With time, the outcome of the trial and the possibility of his return to the presidency will become clearer. The controversies surrounding the Trumps have captivated public attention, and the world awaits the resolution of these matters.
Donald Trump vs Stormy Daniels: All you need to know about the case
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
In the ongoing trial of Former US President Donald Trump, key witnesses, including adult film star Stormy Daniels, have taken the stand. The trial is in regards to alleged hush money payments made to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecution v/s defense
Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to the adult film star.
Prosecutors argue that Trump staged the payments to silence Daniels about her alleged affair with him, which she claims occurred a decade earlier. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, dismissing the case as a “scam” and a “witch hunt.”
Key highlights from the trials
Jeffrey McConney, the former controller of the Trump Organization, testified about discussions he had with finance chief Allen Weisselberg regarding reimbursing Cohen for the payments made to Daniels.
Evidence from bank records and handwritten notes indicate that Trump may have tampered with business records to hide the payments, prosecutors have claimed.
Stormy Daniels, on May 7, herself took the stand during the trial, recounting her alleged sexual encounter with Trump and the subsequent efforts to silence her. Daniels testified that she did not negotiate the $130,000 payment and accepted it to protect her family from potential harm. “I didn’t care about the amount. I just wanted to get it done.”
“You were looking to extort money from President Trump,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said in a trial. Daniels firmly replied, “False.” “Well, that’s what you did,” Necheles retorted, with Daniels again repeating, “False.”
On being asked if Trump should go to jail, Daniels said, “If he is found guilty, absolutely.”
On the other hand, speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, the former President argued, “It’s a ridiculous case, I did nothing wrong — absolutely nothing wrong.” In a later incident, Trump called the trial a “Frankenstein case” and questioned its merits.
What’s next for Trump?
The legal proceedings are still underway, with both the prosecution and defense presenting their cases to the jury.
The outcome of the trial could have significant implications for Trump’s political future and legal standing, particularly as he seeks to regain the presidency in the upcoming US elections in November.
Who is Stormy Daniels, and what happened with Donald Trump?
Donald Trump is on trial over charges stemming from a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
He is the first former US president to stand criminal trial – in a case that centres on him allegedly falsifying business records to conceal the payment.
Ms Daniels claims she and Mr Trump had sex, and that she accepted $130,000 (£104,000) from his former lawyer before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about the encounter.
The lawyer, Michael Cohen, was later jailed on multiple charges.
Since the allegations surfaced in 2018, the former president has denied any sexual involvement with Ms Daniels.
Who is Stormy Daniels?
Ms Daniels, 45, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is a Louisiana-born adult film star and director who has won multiple awards for her movie work.
In addition, she made appearances in mainstream Hollywood films, including 2000s comedies The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up.
She also dabbled in politics and previously declared herself to be a Republican – the same party as Mr Trump.
Daniels’ affair claim
Ms Daniels has said in media interviews that she met Mr Trump at a charity golf tournament in July 2006.
She alleged the pair had sex once in his hotel room at Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada. A lawyer for Mr Trump “vehemently” denied this at the time.
“He didn’t seem worried about it. He was kind of arrogant,” she said in response to an interviewer’s question asking if Mr Trump had told her to keep quiet about their alleged night together.
Mr Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, was not at the tournament and had just given birth.
Threats and payments to stay silent
Ms Daniels says Mr Cohen paid her $130,000 in “hush-money” to keep her quiet about the affair, just ahead of the 2016 election – an election won by Mr Trump.
She says she took it because she was concerned for the safety of her family. Ms Daniels said she was legally and physically threatened to stay silent.
In 2018, Ms Daniels recalled how an unknown man had approached her and her infant daughter in a Las Vegas parking lot seven years earlier and told her to “leave Trump alone”.
She said this happened shortly after she agreed to give an interview to In Touch magazine about the alleged affair.
“That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her mom,” she recalled the stranger saying, in an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes.
Before the episode aired, a shell company linked to Mr Cohen threatened Ms Daniels with a $20m lawsuit, arguing she had broken their non-disclosure deal (NDA), or “hush agreement”.
Ms Daniels told the CBS show she was risking a million-dollar fine by speaking on national television, but “it was very important to me to be able to defend myself”.
Her interview with In Touch would not be published in full until 2018, three months before the 60 Minutes episode.
Is it illegal to pay hush-money?
It is not illegal to pay someone compensation in exchange for an NDA.
But prosecutors have focused on how Mr Cohen’s reimbursement was recorded in Mr Trump’s accounts. He is accused of falsifying his business records by categorising the payment as for legal fees.
The wire transfer came mere days before the presidential election. District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Mr Trump tried “to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public”.
In August 2018, Mr Cohen was imprisoned after pleading guilty to tax evasion and breaking campaign finance rules, in part related to his payment to Ms Daniels and another alleged Trump lover.
Although he initially said that Mr Trump had nothing to do with the payments, Mr Cohen later testified under oath that Mr Trump had directed him to make the $130,000 hush-payment.
He also said the president had reimbursed him.
What has Trump said?
Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan criminal court to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.
He was indicted in relation to payments made to Ms Daniels. He is also under investigation in relation to pay-offs to a former Playboy model to keep quiet about her alleged sexual encounters with him.
Writing on his Truth Social platform ahead of the start of his trial, Mr Trump again took aim at the judge presiding over his case, which he calls a Democrat-led “witch hunt”.
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