NEW YORK — Former President Trump's lawyers have asked for a new trial in his initial criminal case, citing the sexually suggestive testimony of Stormy Daniels, a key witness for the prosecution.
“The restrictions that were supposed to guide this witness when answering the government's questions were disregarded,” said Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche.
The prosecution called Daniels, a porn actress, to the stand on Tuesday after her testimony had been expected for weeks.
Daniels alleges that she had a relationship with Trump in 2006, although he has denied it. Trump's former fixer later paid Daniels $130,000 to keep her story about the supposed affair confidential in the weeks leading up to the 2016 election.
This payment forms the basis of the district attorney's case, which accuses Trump of falsifying business records 34 times in connection with the transaction. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
After the lunch break, Blanche requested a new trial. Daniels had provided detailed and lurid testimony about the alleged sexual encounter earlier in the day.
Blanche implied that Daniels' account has evolved since 2016, changing from a consensual affair to something more questionable. He also argued that certain details that the jury heard, such as the lack of condom use, were inappropriate.
“How can you just let them ring the bell?” Blanche inquired.
Susan Hoffinger, a prosecutor with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, countered Blanche’s claims.
“In your motions, your honor did not put any guardrails on the testimony,” she said, asserting that Daniels’ story has been public for several years and the defense should not be surprised by her testimony.
Updated 2:18 p.m.
