Stormy Daniels’ ex-lawyer takes stand at Trump trial

The lawyer who negotiated a hush money payment from Donald Trump to an adult film star has been grilled by the former US president’s defence attorney, who suggested his activities bordered on “extortion”.

Mr Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to actress Stormy Daniels just days ahead of the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton.

The trial resumed today after a day off yesterday, with prosecutors urging Judge Juan Merchan to fine the Republican presidential candidate for violating a gag order he imposed to protect trial participants.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge, who held Mr Trump in contempt and fined him $9,000 on Tuesday for gag order violations, said he would issue a ruling later.

Keith Davidson, Ms Daniels’ former lawyer, then took the witness stand to continue his testimony as Mr Trump, dressed in a dark blue suit and bright yellow tie, sat at the defense table.

After prosecutors wrapped up their questioning, Mr Trump’s attorneys began their cross-examination of Mr Davidson, who also represented another woman, Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had a year-long affair with Mr Trump.

David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, testified last week that he purchased Ms McDougal’s story for $150,000 and then buried it, a scheme known in the industry as “catch and kill”.

Emil Bove, one of Mr Trump’s lawyers, began his questioning, which quickly turned heated, by asking Mr Davidson if he was familiar with the laws about extortion.

“When you were negotiating on behalf of McDougal and Daniels one of your concerns was staying on the right side of the law with regard to extortion,” Mr Bove said.

“I suppose so,” Mr Davidson replied. “I did everything I could to make sure my activities were lawful.”

Mr Bove asked him about his involvement in other cases involving celebrities and Mr Davidson acknowledged he was probed by federal and state investigators for alleged extortion of Hulk Hogan. He did not end up facing any charges.

Mr Davidson said he represented clients who had possession of Hulk Hogan’s sex tape.

“I made a monetary demand,” said Mr Davidson, which would allow the retired professional wrestler to acquire the tapes.

“I made no threats to anyone,” he said.

‘Rain legal hell’ – Daniels’ ex-lawyer

Prosecutors earlier walked Mr Davidson through the negotiations with Mr Cohen about the hush money payment and damage control efforts after media reports emerged in January 2018 about Ms Daniels’ 2006 sexual encounter with Mr Trump.

Ms Daniels issued a statement at the time denying ever having an “affair” with Mr Trump or receiving hush money from him.

She has since said the statement was not true and she did indeed have sex with the married Mr Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006.

“(Cohen) wanted her to deny the story to protect his client,” Mr Davidson said, and had threatened to “rain legal hell down” on Ms Daniels.

Earlier, prosecutor Christopher Conroy urged Judge Merchan to fine Mr Trump for four new violations of the gag order barring him from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors, court staff or their relatives.

Mr Conroy pointed to public comments Mr Trump has made about Mr Cohen, who has become a vocal critic of his former boss and is expected to be a star witness in the case.

“The defendant thinks the rules should be different for him,” Mr Conroy said. “The defendant has proven his willingness to say and do anything to disrupt this process.”

Judge Merchan fined Mr Trump $9,000 on Tuesday and warned him he could face jail for continuing to lash out on social media.

Todd Blanche, Mr Trump’s attorney, complained that President Joe Biden had spoken publicly about the trial but his client – Mr Biden’s likely November election rival – “can’t respond”.

The judge said that was not true and there was nothing in the gag order that limits what Mr Trump can say in response to Mr Biden.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump took advantage of a break in the trial to hold campaign rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan – blaming his legal troubles and America’s ills on Mr Biden.

Before going into court today, he denounced his trial as “election interference” and said the case “should never have been brought”.