“I didn’t think I’d ever say this sentence” Anderson Cooper Critiques Defense Strategy in Stormy Daniels’ Testimony
PHOTO BY MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper struggled to politely describe adult film star Stormy Daniels’ latest testimony in former President Donald Trump’s hush-money trial during a Thursday broadcast. Daniels, a key witness in the case, faced intense scrutiny over past social media posts in which she belittled and ridiculed Trump.
One of the more contentious exchanges involved Daniels responding to a post where someone had called her a “human toilet.” In her reply, she asserted that she would nonetheless be responsible for “flushing down” Trump, whom she described as an “orange t–d.” This crudeness and the provocative nature of her tweets became a focal point of the cross-examination.
“I didn’t think I’d ever say this sentence, but they’re actually arguing over who the orange turd is,” Cooper informed viewers. “She has said, ‘Oh, I absolutely meant Mr. Trump,’ so Stormy Daniels has now clarified that is who she was in fact talking about… flushing down the toilet.” “It’s gonna be interesting to hear… how ultimately if jurors ever speak, how effective they think this kind of level of cross-examination of Stormy Daniels has been,” said Cooper. “There’s obviously a danger of spending a lot of time in the weeds on tweets.”
Cooper further cited reports suggesting that some of the defense strategies were driven by Trump’s desire to be more aggressive rather than the strategic judgment of his legal team. He noted that “some of what the defense is doing is essentially client maintenance, is essentially what Donald Trump wants them to do, not necessarily what they may have wanted to do.”
A recent New York Times report indicated that Trump had expressed dissatisfaction with his lawyers for not being aggressive enough in challenging witnesses in the Manhattan trial. Reportedly, Trump had even suggested his attorneys attack the jury pool, which he believes is biased against him.
Despite the defense team’s vigorous efforts, Cooper raised concerns about the efficacy of their cross-examination tactics. By focusing on Daniels’ past tweets, the defense might have strayed into trivial territory, which could detract from the overall strength of their argument. Instead of undermining Daniels’ credibility, this approach seemed to highlight her willingness to engage in a public feud with Trump.
Daniels’ testimony is crucial to the trial as she provides key details about the alleged hush-money payment and the events leading up to it. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office alleges that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign to keep her quiet about their alleged affair. Trump denies the affair and any wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to all charges, reports CNN.
The trial has drawn significant public and media attention, partly due to Trump’s status as a former president and his ongoing legal troubles. In addition to the Manhattan case, Trump faces multiple criminal trials, including charges of election interference in Georgia and Washington, D.C., and Espionage Act violations in Florida.
Legal experts and commentators like Cooper have criticized the defense team’s strategy, suggesting that focusing on Daniels’ social media behavior rather than directly addressing the central allegations might weaken their case. Cooper pointed out that if the jurors ultimately speak out, their views on the defense’s approach to cross-examining Daniels could be revealing.
Ultimately, the trial remains a high-stakes battle for Trump, with the potential to significantly impact his political future and legacy. As the legal proceedings continue, both sides will be carefully scrutinized for their tactics, and the public will eagerly follow the unfolding drama in the courtroom.
