The private and potentially embarrassing details appeared to infuriate the former president, who has denied the affair and is deeply protective of his image. What’s less clear is how damaging the revelations will be to his case or his campaign.

The testimony is the latest example of how Trump’s dealings with women are still coming back to haunt him in court. Last year, a federal jury in Manhattan found Trump liable for sexually assaulting New York writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Another jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages to punish Trump for defaming her by denying her allegation of rape.

Star witness

Daniels is at the center of a case in which Trump is accused of falsifying business records to conceal the nature of a $130,000 payment to her to keep her quiet before the 2016 election.

If Daniels can convince jurors that a sexual encounter took place, it can bolster the Manhattan District Attorney’s argument about Trump’s motivations. Still, her detailed descriptions drew admonitions from the judge and complaints from Trump’s lawyers.

Mistrial request

Daniels delivered much of her testimony in a colorful manner that sometimes bordered on humorous, eliciting laughs from spectators. Daniels avoided looking at Trump, even when she walked right by him. For his part, Trump appeared to keep his eyes closed for much of her testimony.

Trump’s lawyers mostly let Daniels testify uninterrupted. It wasn’t until after the lunch break that Trump’s lawyer Blanche seized the opportunity to ask for a mistrial, arguing that Daniels had gone too far.

Merchan denied the request, but asked Daniels to avoid providing “unnecessary details.” He also chided Trump’s lawyers for not objecting to it earlier.

Salacious details

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