During the criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress, underwent a thorough cross-examination by Susan Necheles, Trump's attorney. Daniels had previously testified about an alleged nonconsensual encounter with Trump in 2006, while Trump faced 34 charges related to falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Necheles delved into Daniels' actions following the alleged encounter, questioning her about attempts to profit from her association with Trump. This included discussing Daniels' 2018 strip club tour, titled "Make America Horny Again," her memoir "Full Disclosure," and her social media commentary about Trump. Necheles highlighted a social media exchange where Daniels referred to herself as the best person to "flush" Trump down, suggesting she aimed to incriminate him.
During the morning session, Necheles focused on the 2016 nondisclosure agreement (NDA) Daniels signed to maintain silence about the alleged affair. Necheles pressed Daniels on whether signing the NDA was her decision and if she had considered speaking to a reporter instead. Daniels' response was uncertain, indicating she did not recall the specifics.
Later, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger revisited Necheles' line of questioning regarding the NDA. Daniels explained that at the time, a friend had advised her to stay "in plain view," implying that signing the NDA was a means of protecting herself while not entirely remaining silent.