CNN Analyst Says Stormy Testimony Is ‘Going to Backfire’ on Prosecutors as Trump Defense Team Plans Longer Cross-Examination
CNN senior justice correspondent Evan Perez predicted the testimony of adult film actress Stormy Daniels in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial “is going to backfire” on prosecutors.
Daniels took the stand on Tuesday and her salacious testimony created tensions with the judge and defense. Judge Juan Merchan told Daniels to keep from giving unnecessary details as she told tales involving Trump in Hugh Hefner-like pajamas and more. She even began describing a sexual position when the defense objected and it was sustained. The defense’s motion to declare a mistrial was denied by the judge.
CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams and Perez joined Dana Bash on Inside Politics on Wednesday as the network was reporting that Trump’s defense team is planning a longer cross-examination after the initial testimony. There is a break in the case on Wednesday, but Daniels returns to the stand on Thursday.
Williams acknowledged problems with the testimony, but said Daniels was a “valuable” and necessary witness. Trump is facing more than 30 felony counts for charges that he falsified business records to hide hush money payments to Daniels to cover up an affair. He has denied knowledge of the payments and the affair.
Perez argued Daniels may have been a damaging witness because her penchant for over-talking and sharing opens too many avenues for the defense. One particular problem that Perez highlighted was Daniels suggesting some intimidation when she was asked if she felt she could leave a hotel suite where she said she met Trump. There’s been no allegation of a “nonconsensual” encounter, so the specific words of Daniels open room for the defense to go after her harder, Perez argued.
“They now have room to go after her for some of the suggestions she made,” he said.
Williams stood behind his stance, arguing that without establishing some kind of alleged sexual encounter then the whole case could get thrown out as the encounter would be central to the hush money payments.
“Prosecutors have to establish a sexual encounter or else all the other stuff goes away,” he said.
Watch above via CNN.
