Stormy Daniels: Trump doesn't deserve prison for hush money

Donald Trump was charged with a crime this week after making a payment to Stormy Daniels, but she claims he shouldn't go to jail for it.

In her first interview after the hearing, the adult film actress said, "I don't think that his crimes against me are worthy of incarceration."

In a Manhattan courthouse, the former US president entered a not guilty plea to 34 counts of falsifying financial documents.

The maximum term for the felonies is four years in prison.

Prior to the 2016 election, Mr. Trump's attorney paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to silence her regarding a rumored affair she had with the real estate magnate.

Since the accounts listed the payments as legal expenditures, the prosecution claims that the way Mr. Trump later reimbursed the attorney while he was president amounted to tax fraud.

Ms. Daniels stated on Talk TV's Piers Morgan Uncensored that she did not believe he merited incarceration for his actions.

To prevent others from believing they can get away with the same acts, she emphasized that if he were proven guilty of the others of which he is accused, he should be put in jail.

For allegedly mishandling secret information, attempting to rig a Georgian election, and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol building, Mr. Trump is the subject of several criminal investigations.

Ms. Daniels responded "without a doubt" that she would testify in the upcoming trial when asked if she would.

"I have nothing to hide, so while it's intimidating, I look forward to it. I've been the only one telling the truth.

She claimed that although she experienced a range of emotions when she saw Mr. Trump enter the courtroom, melancholy predominated all others.

He had to be subject to the judge's authority. The monarch had been overthrown. He can no longer be touched.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who is prosecuting the case, claimed that, with an election just around the corner, seeking to conceal the gift to Ms. Daniels amounted to voting fraud.

 Legal professionals have told the BBC that they believe a fine is the most likely result and that it is doubtful Mr. Trump will go to jail if found guilty.

Since the indictment, his Republican colleagues have rallied around him and criticized Mr. Bragg, a Democrat, for conducting a politically motivated investigation.