New York — Former President Donald Trump’s legal team reported attempts to serve a subpoena to Stormy Daniels at an event in Brooklyn last month, but the adult film actor and key witness in Trump’s criminal trial refused the papers and walked away.
A process server working for Trump’s lawyers attempted to hand Daniels documents demanding information related to a documentary about her life and involvement with Trump, but she left without taking them. The process server stated that he left the documents at Daniels’ feet.
Daniels’ lawyer, Clark Brewster, claims they never received the paperwork and dismissed the requests as a “fishing expedition” unrelated to Trump’s criminal trial. Daniels is expected to testify about a $130,000 payment she received in 2016 from Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to prevent her from speaking publicly about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump’s legal team seeks Judge Juan M. Merchan’s intervention to compel Daniels to comply with the subpoena. Brewster contends that the requests aim to harass or intimidate Daniels as a lay witness.
As Trump’s trial unfolds, seven jurors have been seated so far, with jury selection set to resume Thursday. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He denies having a sexual encounter with Daniels and argues the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
In addition to the subpoena dispute, Trump’s lawyers aim to challenge his credibility if he chooses to testify. Prosecutors plan to question him about his 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.
As the legal battles continue, the Manhattan district attorney’s office and Trump’s legal team remain at odds over how the trial will proceed. Judge Merchan plans to hold a hearing Friday to address these disputes and decide whether Trump’s past legal matters can be questioned during the trial.
