Trump was ‘very upset’ when Stormy Daniels story arrived out, top White Property aide testifies

Then-President Donald Trump was “quite upset” when the $130,000 hush income payment to porn star Stormy Daniels very first became a key news story, a previous best White Home aide testified Friday.

“The total condition was incredibly uncomfortable,” stated Madeleine Westerhout, a former director of Oval Office operations beneath Trump, in the ex-president’s legal demo in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom.

Westerhout mentioned she spoke with Trump at that time about Daniels, who testified that she experienced sexual intercourse with Trump in 2006 at a superstar golfing tournament in Lake Tahoe.

Trump “was quite upset about it,” Westerhout recalled.

“My knowledge is that he realized it would be hurtful to his loved ones,” she said. Trump was married to his spouse, Melania Trump, at the time the alleged one-night stand occurred.

The questions about Trump’s response arrived from Trump’s attorneys in their cross-evaluation of Westerhout, who is a witness for the prosecution.

Defense lawyers have tried out to undermine the prosecution’s argument in the circumstance, that the hush cash payment to Daniels was meant to enable Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

They argue that Trump was also worried about how the intercourse tale would have an impact on his spouse and little ones.

On Thursday, Westerhout testified about Trump’s work behavior in the White Household, and she confirmed a listing of high-profile contacts that was compiled for Trump in 2017. The get in touch with listing incorporated “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels, quarterback Tom Brady and tennis fantastic Serena Williams.

Also mentioned have been ex-tabloid publisher David Pecker and Trump’s previous law firm, Michael Cohen. The two men are at the centre of Manhattan prosecutors’ case, in which Trump is charged with falsifying enterprise data about hush funds payments as part of a plan to impact the 2016 presidential election.

Westerhout painted a flattering portrait of Trump, praising his work ethic and his relationship with his wife. She cried while describing how she was fired from her occupation in 2019 following criticizing users of Trump’s family at a supper with reporters.

Her portrayal of Trump as a devoted spouse cut sharply versus the testimony of Daniels, who graphically in depth her sexual face with Trump over 7 hours of testimony.

Daniels also clashed with Trump’s attorney, who aggressively questioned her on cross-examination about her later attempts to sell her tale about intercourse with Trump.

At a person level, Trump’s attorney claimed to Daniels, “You have a whole lot of working experience producing phony stories about intercourse,” referring to Daniels’ function in the adult film marketplace.

“Wow. That’s not how I would put it,” Daniels shot again. “The intercourse in the movies is pretty substantially true. Just like what happened to me in that space” with Trump.

Immediately after the jury was excused for the working day, Trump’s lawyers requested a mistrial for the 2nd time in two times. And, for the second time in two times, the request was denied.

Decide Juan Merchan also rejected a request by Trump that he revise a gag order to permit the previous president to publicly assault Daniels, now that she had concluded testifying. Trump is at the moment barred from building statements about any of the witnesses in the trial.

“My worry is guarding the integrity of the proceedings as a complete,” claimed Merchan, instead than particular person witnesses only right before they testify. Merchan has previously held Trump in contempt of court 10 moments for violating the gag order.

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