On Tuesday, Stephanie Clifford testified in court in New York as a witness in a criminal trial involving Donald Trump. The case concerns allegations of accounting crimes related to hush money Trump paid to Clifford through his lawyer before the 2016 US presidential election.
Clifford provided detailed testimony about how she ended up in a hotel room with Trump, with Trump’s security guard initially inviting her to dinner with the then-businessman. Despite initially refusing, Clifford eventually agreed to meet with Trump at his suite after being persuaded by a colleague.
During her testimony, Clifford described Trump’s attire and conduct during the encounter, including discussions about her work in adult entertainment and STD tests. She stated that she did not expect to have sex with Trump and felt nervous and ashamed afterwards.
Trump’s lawyers attempted to block many of the prosecutors’ questions during the trial, with the judge frequently intervening to keep the proceedings focused. Trump denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the trial as a politically motivated attack against him.
According to prosecutor Susan Hoffinger, Clifford’s testimony was crucial to establish the sequence of events and bolster her credibility. Despite pushback from Trump’s legal team, Clifford’s detailed testimony was seen as essential in providing the court with a complete picture of the alleged events.
