Hulk Hogan’s sex tape just became a talking point in Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial

Former President of the United States Donald Trump is currently under criminal trial for allegedly perpetrating a scheme to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The prosecution is looking to prove that Trump falsified business records to cover up the hush money payment and keep the American voters from learning about his affair with her.

The attorney who represented Stormy during these non-disclosure negotiations with Trump, Keith Davidson, was on the witness stand today. And wouldn’t you know it, Hulk Hogan’s sex tape came up as Davidson was questioned by Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove.

Bove was attempting to establish Davidson as someone who has a history of extorting celebrities. Here is the context in which Hogan’s name was used this afternoon, per Politico’s live blog of the trial:

Trump attorney Emil Bove’s cross-examination of Keith Davidson has at times become testy, as Bove tries to paint Davidson as a shake-down artist. The implication of the questioning is that Davidson extorted the $130,000 payment he negotiated for his client Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Bove raised a series of dubious legal claims involving celebrities that Davidson was involved in over the course of his career. They include legal actions involving Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, Tila Tequila and Charlie Sheen.

Bove, for instance, asked Davidson if he was investigated by state and federal authorities for allegedly extorting Hogan in 2012. Davidson, who represented people who had possession of a sex tape featuring the professional wrestler, responded that he was.

Bove asked Davidson about a story that featured a still image of the sex tape on a website known as The Dirty — the same website that first reported the alleged sexual encounter between Stormy Daniels and Trump.

Asked if he was the source for the story, Davidson responded that he had “nothing to do with that.”

He also denied being the source of a 2015 National Enquirer story written by the tabloid’s editor, Dylan Howard, that described the content on the Hogan sex tape.

Davidson has been very careful in the wording of his answers and has repeatedly said he does not recall events that Bove has asked him about.

Bove repeatedly asked Davidson if he “extracted” money from celebrities in his legal deals.

Here’s how Davidson characterized the claims: “We asserted that there was tortious activity committed and there were valid settlements executed.”

Bove grew frustrated with Davidson, telling him, “Look, we’re both lawyers. I’m not here to play lawyer games with you.” Davidson later shot back: “If you’re not here to play legal games, then don’t say ‘extract.’

I don’t know if Trump was awake to hear any of the tense back-and-forth exchanges between Bove and Davidson, but I guess I can’t say I’m surprised that Hulk Hogan, Tila Tequila, Lindsay Lohan, and Charlie Sheen are part of the WWE Hall of Famer’s defense.

Do you think the Hulk Hogan defense will work out for the former POTUS, Cagesiders?