Crime: Trump trial: Porn actress defends herself against allegations

Porn actress Stormy Daniels tells in detail about sex with Donald Trump in court in New York. His defenders accuse her of lying, seeking recognition and greed – but Daniels defends herself.

In the criminal trial against former US President Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, the porn actress defended herself against allegations from Trump's defense team. Daniels invented sex with Trump out of a desire for recognition and greed, lawyer Susan Necheles accused the porn actress in court in New York in the presence of Trump, as several media representatives present in the courtroom unanimously reported. Daniels then objected.

“You made this all up, right?” Necheles asked Daniels. She replied, “No.” As a porn star, Daniels has experience with “fake sex stories,” Necheles continued. Daniels, referring to her encounter with Trump, replied that the sex in those films was “very real, just like what happened to me in that room.”

The day before, Daniels had already commented in detail about sex with Trump, who is now 77 years old. She had described how she was confused in Trump's hotel suite at Lake Tahoe in 2006 and wondered how she came to sleep with Donald Trump. Afterwards she was shaking so much that she had problems getting dressed again. The defense had failed with an application that was intended to halt the trial because of the statements.

$130,000 hush money

The prosecution in New York accuses Trump of wanting to improve his chances of winning the 2016 US presidential election by paying Daniels $130,000 in hush money. Although the transaction itself was not illegal, when returning the money to his lawyer Michael Cohen, Trump falsified business documents to conceal the actual purpose.

This is the first criminal trial against an ex-president in US history. Trump faces several years in prison, which could also be suspended, or a fine. The case could influence the US election campaign. Trump wants to be re-elected president in November. He has pleaded not guilty – and repeatedly denied having sex with Daniels at all.