Stormy Daniels describes encounter with Trump during N.Y. criminal trial testimony
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Stormy Daniels leaving 'The View' on March 21 in New York. Photo: MEGA/GC Images
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels provided a detailed testimony Tuesday of her alleged sexual encounter with former President Trump in 2006.
Why it matters: The dramatic moment brought Daniels face-to-face with the former president, who allegedly paid her off to stay quiet about an affair that he denies. The payment is at the center of Trump's New York criminal trial.
Driving the news: Daniels described to the jury the night she says she met Trump for dinner after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in July 2006.
- She testified that when she arrived at his hotel for dinner, he was wearing pajamas, per the New York Times.
- After about two hours of chatting, she said she went to the bathroom and when she returned Trump was "in boxer shorts and t-shirt," per NBC News.
- She testified that their brief sexual encounter left her "shaking."
Zoom in: Trump's legal team called for a mistrial on Tuesday, arguing that Daniels changed her story from 2016. Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, swiftly rejected their bid for a mistrial.
- Merchan told prosecutors earlier on Tuesday that "the degree of detail we're going into here is just unnecessary," per CNN.
- "When [Daniels] comes back to the stand, we can move it along more quickly," Merchan said.
The big picture: Daniels has said that she was paid $130,000 by Trump's ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, before the 2016 presidential election to remain silent about the alleged affair with Trump that she says took place a decade earlier.
- Prosecutors have accused Trump of falsifying business records in the first degree to try to shield the payments to Cohen. Trump pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing.
Between the lines: Trump reportedly posted on his Truth Social account on Tuesday morning complaining that he had "no time" to prepare for the next witness in the case.
- The post came as reports emerged that Daniels was expected to testify Tuesday.
- Trump appeared to delete the post less than an hour later. He is under a gag order in the case that restricts him from commenting on jurors, court personnel and potential witnesses.
- Merchan threatened Trump with jail time on Monday for future violations of the order.
Go deeper: Trump's threat of being jailed suddenly gets real
Editor's note: This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
