The National Enquirer initially balked at Stormy Daniels' claim that she had an affair with Donald Trump but reversed course following the release of his "Access Hollywood" tape shortly before the 2016 election, the lawyer who represented her at the time testified Tuesday.
Lawyer Keith Davidson told jurors during Day 9 of the former president's historic "hush money" trial in New York City that "there was very little, if any, interest" when he first offered to sell the porn star's story to the supermarket tabloid, according to the Associated Press.
But the "Access Hollywood" recording, in which Trump bragged about grabbing women's private parts without permission, had "tremendous influence" and the Enquirer's interest "reached a crescendo," Davidson said, according to NBC News.
"Trump is f-----," Davidson wrote in a text to Dylan Howard, then the Enquirer's editor-in-chief, the New York Post said, citing evidence presented in court.
Howard responded, "Wave the white flag. It's over people!"
The judge has ruled the tape can't be played in court, so the prosecution asked Davidson to describe it.
He said it involved Trump and then-"Access Hollywood" co-host Billy Bush being recorded by a "hot mic" and "some statements by both men that were troublesome," according to AP.
The Enquirer struck a deal with Davison but later backed out, after which Davidson began negotiating with Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who agreed to pay $130,000 for her story,
"In essence, Michael Cohen stepped into AMI's shoes," Davidson said, referring to the Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc.
Trump, the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and is on trial for 34 counts of falsifying business records to allegedly cover up the payment that bought Daniels' silence.
He's pleaded not guilty and denies Daniels' claim that they had sex in at a resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, in 2006.
Trump was joined in court Tuesday by one of his sons, Eric Trump, marking the first time a family member has shown up to support him.
Republican Texas Attorney Ken Paxton also attended the proceedings.
Earlier in the day, Judge Juan Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for repeatedly violating gag orders and Trump repeated his claim that his free-speech rights were being trampled after Thursday's court session ended.
"It's totally unconstitutional," Trump told reporters before leaving.
Trump also called Merchan "totally conflicted" and said the case against him was a "disgrace to New York."
Davidson is expected to continue his testimony when the trial resumes on Thursday.
