Porn star Stormy Daniels testifies in case against Trump: ‘Lost my consciousness’

Former porn star Stormy Daniels has testified against former President Donald Trump. He is accused of covering up a $130,000 payment to Daniels. That money served as hush money to prevent Daniels from coming clean about their sexual affair.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, began her testimony by describing her upbringing as the child of a single mother who sometimes disappeared for days. She said she started dancing at the age of 17 at a strip club. Donald Trump leaned back in his chair, slouching slightly, as he looked at her. He did not respond further to her testimony.

Daniels then described how she met Trump at a golf tournament 18 years ago. The company she worked for sponsored the tournament. She spoke briefly to Trump during an informal meeting of porn actresses and golfers. She caught Trump’s attention when an aide mentioned that Daniels also directed films. ‘Oh, you direct too? You must be smart,” she quoted Trump’s compliment.

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‘A role in The Apprentice’

Trump was active in the New York real estate world at the time. He was also known for the reality program The Apprentice, in which he assessed ambitious applicants who wanted to work for him. His legal advisers say Daniels was looking for a role on The Apprentice. Trump denied ever having sex with her.

Daniels said in court that she would later have dinner with Trump. They met in a hotel. Trump received her there in his pajamas, after which he changed clothes. Not much later she lost consciousness. She stated that she did not use drugs or alcohol that evening.

Yet she suddenly woke up naked in bed. ‘I looked at the ceiling, not knowing how I got there. I tried to think about other things, not to think about what happened in that bedroom,” Daniels said of having sex with Trump. Daniels said she did not ask Trump to stop. “I didn’t say anything.” Then she left the hotel room.

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Trump transferred $130,000, which he labeled as “legal fees.” According to US prosecutors, the money was intended to reimburse his lawyer Michael Cohen for the hush money he paid Daniels, but it was not written that way.

It is the first time in the history of the United States that a criminal trial has taken place against an American ex-president.