NEW YORK – In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump’s legal team attempted to serve Stormy Daniels with a subpoena as she arrived at a bar in Brooklyn last month. However, the porn actor, who is expected to be a key witness in Trump’s criminal trial, refused to accept the papers and walked away, setting off a contentious legal battle.
A process server working for Trump’s lawyers recounted approaching Daniels with documents related to a recently released documentary about her life and connection to Trump. Despite his efforts, Daniels did not acknowledge the server and continued into the venue, leaving the papers at her feet. This encounter, which occurred before a screening of the “Stormy” film at a nightclub in Brooklyn, has fueled tensions between the two parties.
Trump’s legal team is now seeking to compel Daniels to comply with the subpoena. They have included a photo taken by the process server as evidence of the attempted service. However, Daniels’ lawyer has disputed receiving the paperwork, labeling the requests as a baseless intrusion that holds no relevance to Trump’s ongoing criminal trial.
This legal saga stems from a hush money case, marking the first of Trump’s four criminal cases to proceed to trial. The trial, which is underway in Manhattan, has seen the selection of seven jurors with proceedings set to resume. Daniels is expected to testify about a $130,000 payment she received in 2016 from Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, in exchange for her silence regarding an alleged sexual encounter with Trump years before.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in connection to the hush money payment. Despite the allegations, Trump denies any sexual encounter with Daniels and contends that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses. The Manhattan district attorney’s office has expressed intentions to challenge Trump’s credibility should he choose to testify at the trial.
Adding to the complexity of the case, Trump has faced recent legal setbacks, including a $454 million civil penalty for lying about his wealth and an $83.3 million judgment for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. The implications of these rulings have raised questions about Trump’s veracity and credibility as a witness in his ongoing legal battles.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Trump’s lawyers are vigorously pursuing avenues to gather potentially damaging information about Daniels. They are demanding documentation related to the production and distribution of the “Stormy” documentary and seeking insights into any financial compensation Daniels may have received for her involvement in the film.
The legal confrontation between Trump’s team and Daniels underscores the high stakes and complex dynamics at play in the former president’s criminal trial. The clash over the subpoena serves as a microcosm of the broader legal battle engulfing Trump, as he faces mounting challenges to his credibility and legal standing in multiple legal arenas.