We'll see if Donald Trump has the guts to testify under oath, as Stormy Daniels did
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Donald Trump keeps saying he wants to answer the accusations made by Stormy Daniels.
So, do it.
He could do exactly what Daniels did, and testify. Under oath.
He could stand in the courtroom, put his right hand on one of the $60 Bibles he was hawking to MAGA shills and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Back in April Trump said that he “absolutely” would testify in his felony case involving $130,000 in hush money payments to Daniels, an adult film star.
Trump walks back his promise to testify
Then, he started hedging. Saying he’d testify “if necessary.” That he would “probably” do so. That he “would like to.”
After the judge overseeing his case issued a gag order to keep Trump from attacking witnesses and jurors, Trump said, “I’m not allowed to testify.”
The judge quickly corrected him, saying the gag order pertains only to “statements that are made outside of court. It does not apply to statements made from the witness stand.”
Biden should bring: Stormy Daniels to a debate with Trump
Under oath.
Trump’s attorneys on Thursday asked the judge to lift his gag order so Trump could respond to Stormy Daniels — without being under oath. The judge said no.
He can speak under oath, like Stormy Daniels did
“It is a really bad feeling to have your Constitutional Right to Free Speech, such a big part of life in our Country, so unfairly taken from you, especially when all of the sleazebags, lowlifes, and grifters that you oppose are allowed to say absolutely anything that they want,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Except Trump’s rights have not been taken from him. He is a defendant in criminal trial.
Stormy Daniels testified, under oath, and then was cross examined. Trump can do the same. Testify, then be cross-examined by the prosecution.
That could be a daunting — and risky — proposition to a man for whom the Washington Post catalogued over 30,000 untruths during his four years as president. A habit other fact checkers say has continued this time around.
Daniels doesn’t believe Trump has the guts to testify. Or, as she put it in a post on X, formerly Twitter:
“Real men respond to testimony by being sworn in and taking the stand in court. Oh … wait. Nevermind.”
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump should testify under oath, like Stormy Daniels did
