1 hour in the past
On Might 7, key witness Stormy Daniels, whose actual identify is Stephanie Clifford, testified about her encounter with former President Donald Trump almost 20 years in the past, which turned the topic of an alleged “hush cash” settlement.
Ms. Clifford was deemed a difficult-to-control witness by Justice Juan Merchan, who interrupted her testimony at Manhattan prison courtroom in New York Metropolis a number of occasions to instruct her to solely reply the questions posed. Ms. Clifford has shared in depth element past the scope of what was requested, to the purpose that protection counsel argued she had coloured her testimony with “excessive prejudice” in opposition to President Trump in a manner that may distract the jury from core details tied to prices within the case.
Justice Merchan mentioned he agreed with the protection that Ms. Clifford had gone into extra element than mandatory however rejected the movement for a mistrial. He discovered that the unfairness situation may very well be remedied by cross-examination.