Critical days of Trump trial will test whether he can exercise discipline and restraint

Donald Trump is heading into the most perilous phase of his hush money trial aside from the moment when the jury retires to consider its verdict.

Former adult film star Stormy Daniels is back on the stand on Thursday to continue what has been at times explicit and cringe-worth testimony about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump nearly two decades ago, which set off a winding chain of events that led to the first criminal trial of an ex-president. Her evidence on Tuesday was deeply embarrassing for Trump and drew an aggressive cross-examination from his attorney trying to shatter Daniels’ credibility.