The reason for putting Ms. Clifford on the stand was to demolish the claims that Trump was an innocent dupe in an alleged blackmail plot which others took it upon themselves to pay off. Clifford established that there was an encounter and that Trump had genuine motivation for making the illegal payoffs. So while the payoffs are the real issue in the case, Clifford's testimony goes to motive.
It also provided the defense with ample opportunity to put their gross incompetence on full display. They tried to play "Perry Mason" (or maybe Tom Cruise's character from "A Few Good Men") and get Clifford to lose her shit on the stand. All they achieved, though, was prove that she was an intelligent, strong, and credible witness, qualities which they in turn proved themselves to be entirely lacking. I mean, some of their questions just beggar the imagination! It is LAWYER 101 stuff: never ask a question you don't already know the answer to.
The reason for putting Ms. Clifford on the stand was to demolish the claims that Trump was an innocent dupe in an alleged blackmail plot which others took it upon themselves to pay off. Clifford established that there was an encounter and that Trump had genuine motivation for making the illegal payoffs. So while the payoffs are the real issue in the case, Clifford's testimony goes to motive.
It also provided the defense with ample opportunity to put their gross incompetence on full display. They tried to play "Perry Mason" (or maybe Tom Cruise's character from "A Few Good Men") and get Clifford to lose her shit on the stand. All they achieved, though, was prove that she was an intelligent, strong, and credible witness, qualities which they in turn proved themselves to be entirely lacking. I mean, some of their questions just beggar the imagination! It is LAWYER 101 stuff: never ask a question you don't already know the answer to.
Indeed. It's a testament to Trump's idiocy that the only lawyers he can cajole into representing him are also idiots.