Daniels' humiliating testimony in Trump's fraud trial infuriated the former president who glowered from a few feet away. But her account only went to confirm what most people in the US and beyond already knew about a man widely regarded as a sexual predator and appeared unlikely to change many votes in November's presidential election.
New York state is prosecuting the former president for fraud after he allegedly used his business, the Trump Organization, to pay $130,000 (£103,900) in hush money to Daniels days before the 2016 election. She went public anyway two years later with a book, Full Disclosure, in which she claimed to have had sex with Trump once.
He continues to deny the encounter but opinion polls show most Republicans think he is lying.
They also do not seem to care. Dr Larry Sabato, the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said many Trump voters may be absorbed by unusually lurid testimony for a fraud trial but he doubted it would make a significant difference to the outcome of the second round of Trump v Joe Biden later in the year.
"When the details about Stormy Daniels finally came out during Trump's presidency, people just instinctively knew it was true. Just like people instinctively knew that Bill Clinton had fooled around because he'd done it so many times before. People are not stupid. But in this era, it doesn't matter much.
"Twenty years ago, Trump wouldn't even be the Republican nominee. Now it doesn't move the needle at all," Sabato said.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin May 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin May 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Parry: Premier League would be 'sterile' without EFL
Rick Parry has accused the Premier League of undervaluing the football pyramid, arguing that without the \"variety and competition\" that come from relegation and promotion the game would become \"sterile\".
Official review: Coote faces FA investigation as Webb breaks silence on video
The Football Association has launched its own investigation into the behaviour of the referee David Coote after remarks he made about Jürgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online this week.
Match-by-match: Coote's Liverpool games as an official
Referee who has been caught on video in a foul-mouthed tirade against Jürgen Klopp officiated 21 Liverpool games. Andy Hunter takes a look at the decisions in each one
Wretched, haunted but human: a referee shaped by modern football
Is it really a surprise that an official or someone similar should end up glassy-eyed and spitting toxins on a sofa?
Hall's audition adds intrigue to England's Nations League finale
In-form Newcastle defender can show Thomas Tuchel he can be the solution to perennial problem on the left
'It's about robust planning, proper financial control'
is about \"preventing the shocks\" that have disrupted the sport in recent years.
'People are going to see women's boxing at its very best'
The super-lightweight world champion Katie Taylor says her rematch against Amanda Serrano in Texas, as the main support act to Tyson v Paul, will be something special
Blindkilde Brown and Fujino help City avoid slip up
Manchester City maintained their 100% start in the Women's Champions League group stage as second-half goals from youngsters Laura Blindkilde Brown and Aoba Fujino were enough to beat a determined Hammarby side.
Players must cope with extra scrutiny, says Lewis
The England coach, Jon Lewis, said his players experienced a \"sharp learning curve\" about perception management in the fallout from their disastrous group-stage exit in last month's T20 World Cup.
No input from Jones in England's plan to upset Springboks
England will not be benefiting from the insider knowledge of their former Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones this weekend after it emerged that neither their players nor key staff members have been in contact with the Irishman, still supposedly employed remotely by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
