During the cross-examination by Trump attorney Susan Necheles, Stormy Daniels faced tough questions regarding the publicity and financial gains she received from going public with her story.
One key point of contention was Daniels' denial of a sexual encounter with Trump in January 2018. Despite initially denying the relationship, Daniels later stated that she did not release the second denial statement herself, alleging that she was pressured to sign it by Michael Cohen through Keith Davidson.
When asked if she wanted to publicly announce her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, Daniels responded that she did not, emphasizing that her intention was to defend herself publicly.
Necheles highlighted various ways in which Daniels benefited from the publicity surrounding her story. This included appearances on popular shows like 60 Minutes, CNN, and The View, which brought Daniels significant attention. Daniels attributed these opportunities to her then-lawyer Michael Avenatti, although she claimed that he took a large portion of the benefits for himself. Additionally, Daniels secured an $800,000 book contract as part of her dealings.
Further probing by Necheles revealed additional ways in which Daniels capitalized on her newfound fame. This included a strip club tour titled 'Make America Horny Again,' an appearance on 'The Surreal Life' reality show, and a $100,000 payment for participating in a documentary.
