Judge slams Trump's 'track record': Key takeaways from Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony

On Day 2 of Stormy Daniels' testimony, Donald Trump's lawyers attempted to show inconsistencies in the porn star's detailed accountof her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with the ex-president.

Here are the key takeaways from the significant testimony.

Defence claims Daniels 'made it all up'

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Defence lawyer Susan Necheles repeatedly tried to prove that Daniels made up the encounter with Trump. However, despite a barrage of tough questions, Daniels stuck to her account.

"You're trying to make me say that it changed, but it hasn't changed," she told the lawyer.

Daniels' cross-examination lasted nearly four hours on day two of her testimony. During it,Necheles questioned her about details she mentioned in her earlier testimony of the alleged encounter, compared to the versions she wrote in her book or mentioned in interviews.

Zeroing in on details, Necheles asked Daniels why in a 2018 interview with Vogue she had failed to mention that Trump's bodyguard was outside the room.

"You made all this up, right?" Necheles asked the adult film star at one point.

"No" responded Daniels. On Tuesday (May 7) she had testified that the bodyguard's presence had contributed to the power imbalance between her and Trump and had left her uncomfortable.

Request for mistrial denied AGAIN

After Daniels'testimony ended, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche once again urged presiding Justice Juan Merchan to declare a mistrial.

He argued that Daniels' detailed testimony, which included explicit details like Trump skipping wearing a condom, veered into territory not relevant to the hush-money allegations against the ex-president.

"This is not a case about sex," said Blanche, adding, "This is not a case about whether that incident (the sexual tryst) took place or didn't take place."

However, once again, Judge Merchan denied the request. He reasoned that since Blanche, in his opening statement on April 22, contended that the encounter never happened, Stormy's lawyers are allowed to reestablish her credibility.

"Your denial puts the jury in a position of having to choose who they believe," said the judge.

Request for relaxation of gag order

Blanche also requested that the gag order on Trump's public comments about jurors and witnesses be loosened. He argued that Trump should be able to respond to questions about Daniels'testimony publicly.

"As we've said repeatedly, he needs an opportunity to respond to the American people," he said.

However, Judge Merchan, citing Trump's "track record," denied this request as well. He said, "Other witnesses, including not only Michael Cohen, will see your client doing whatever it is he intends to do."

"The reason the gag order is in place to begin with is precisely because of the nature of these attacks. The nature, the vitriol … your client's track record speaks for itself here."

Prosecutor Christopher Conroy suggested that Trump can respond while testifying in his own defence.

"If somebody wants to respond to something that's said in this room, that can happen in this room," he commented.

(With inputs from agencies)