In October 2016, lawyer Keith Davidson was promised “the easiest deal” he had ever done in his life.

On Tuesday, he found himself on the stand in the first criminal trial of a former US president, reading aloud profanity-ridden text messages that led to that deal.

Prosecutors have charged Donald Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, for allegedly covering up evidence of this hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Mr Davidson testified about his role in brokering the payout to keep Ms Daniels silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and denies having sex with Ms Daniels.

Text messages displayed in court on Tuesday showed the haggling over Ms Daniels’ payout kicked into high gear after the October 2016 release of the Access Hollywood tape.

The infamous 2006 recording captured Mr Trump boasting on a hot mic that he could grab women’s genitals without their consent because he was famous.

Prosecutors have argued Mr Trump was desperate to bury Ms Daniel’s story in the aftermath of the tape’s release, because an additional allegation of a sexual encounter with an adult film star could doom his presidential bid. They have cast the case as one of election interference.

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