The courtroom chess play going on as Manhattan prosecutors try former President Donald Trump for allegedly criminally falsifying business records is one that not only keeps the defense guessing — but features a "secret weapon."
"She's really key," legal analyst Terri Austin told CNN's Erin Burnett on "Out Front."
Austin was discussing none other than superstar witness Stephanie Clifford whose porn star stage name is the more familiar Stormy Daniels.
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Daniels and ex-Playboy playmate Karen McDougal allege they had affairs with Trump prior to the 2016 election and werepaid to remain silent by Trump's camp as he coasted to victory in the contest.
Trump has denied the affairs and pleaded not guilty.
The move to call Daniels or not is one that Austin believes is going to weigh heavily depending on how Trump's former fixer and attorney Michael Cohen fares when he's called.
Cohen was notably convicted in a past case.
"I don't think that the prosecution necessarily has to call her, though, because this is he records case," she said.
The case already has logged testimony to prove the documents piece of the case and the backchanneling going on between Trump's camp and other key players such as former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker as well as Cohen's former banker, Gary Farro, and Keith Davidson, an attorney who represented Daniels and McDougal.
It's because of the weight of these witnesses and their legitimacy at trial so far that Daniels' potentially blockbuster day testifying in court may or may not take place.
And yet Cohen's performance will dictate if Daniels is called on or not.
"I think if Michael Cohen doesn't go well, if he goes first and we don't know — then I would put Stormy Daniels on because Michael Cohen has some credibility issues," Austin said. "He is someone that no one really likes... and so I think if he doesn't go well, the prosecution may say 'All right, let's put on Stormy to corroborate what we've already said by the records.'"
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