Celebrity scandals grew to become a focal place Thursday during the cross-assessment by Donald Trump’s attorney of Keith Davidson, the law firm who represented grownup film actress Stormy Daniels and previous Playboy design Karen McDougal through the “catch and kill” scheme.
Trump law firm Emil Bove tried using to undermine Davidson’s believability by implying he related himself with folks who had negative reputations and appeared to suggest that Davidson engaged in extortion for celebrity gossip, a stage the witness regularly denied.
“What does the phrase extortion mean to you?,” Bove questioned Davidson throughout this period of the cross-evaluation.
“It really is the obtaining of assets by risk or fear or power,” Davidson stated.
Bove questioned if Davidson was generating demands on behalf of third events asking for dollars and had to be watchful about not violating the legislation on extortion. Davidson turned down that suggestion. Bove then started referencing numerous scenarios in which Davidson allegedly helped people get money.
Bove introduced up how Davidson was investigated by condition and federal authorities, for case in point, on the extortion of Hulk Hogan in link with events in 2012. It was connected to Gawker publishing a clip of a intercourse tape that includes Hogan, a qualified wrestler.
Trump’s attorney then stated that Davidson also represented an individual who leaked information and facts about Lindsey Lohan’s stint at a rehab facility and claimed that anyone named “Ms. Holland” got paid out in link with TMZ publishing Lohan’s confidential affected individual file.
“I you should not remember,” Davidson reported.
He seemed to be referencing a 2010 report from TMZ that mentioned Dawn Holland, a chemical dependency technician at the Betty Ford Clinic, claimed Lohan was violent and consuming throughout her therapy there.
Bove questioned Davidson if he had brokered a offer for the sale of a sex tape involving fact Tv set star Tila Tequila but Davidson consistently claimed he could not remember the situation Bove was alluding to.
Trump’s law firm then questioned irrespective of whether Davidson represented clientele who have been paid by actor Charlie Sheen, which Davidson claimed he did. Davidson, for instance, confirmed that he had helped orchestrate a settlement involving a client named Karen Montgomery.
But Davidson denied any “extraction” of money against Sheen, instead keeping that there have been “valid settlements executed.”
Asked if he has a fuzzy memory about these activities, Davidson explained, “I experienced more than 1,500 customers in my profession…I you should not bear in mind a settlement from 13 years ago.”
Previously in the working day, the prosecution questioned Davidson about his involvement in the hush revenue deals at the coronary heart of the circumstance against Trump. Davidson stated he aided broker the offer to bury statements from Daniels and McDougal about Trump. Davidson thorough his dealings with Trump’s then-law firm Michael Cohen as properly as discussions with Nationwide Enquirer executives.
Trump is going through 34 counts of falsifying company records linked to the hush revenue offer. He has pleaded not responsible and denied owning affairs with Daniels or McDougal.
