New York, NY – The ongoing hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump continues as the prosecution’s first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, returns for further questioning on Friday. Pecker’s testimony has shed light on Trump’s alleged involvement in efforts to suppress damaging stories during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Throughout the trial, Pecker has recounted how Trump and his then-lawyer Michael Cohen enlisted him to monitor potential damaging stories that could harm Trump’s candidacy. Under cross-examination, Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, sought to challenge Pecker’s credibility by highlighting instances where his recollection may have been faulty due to the passage of time.
Pecker admitted that the National Enquirer often purchased stories it did not publish, using them as leverage to obtain other stories or for other purposes. He revealed that the publication intervened in three particular stories that could have been detrimental to Trump’s campaign, including one involving a doorman’s false claim that Trump had fathered an illegitimate child.
Another story centered around former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged an affair with Trump. Pecker testified that he believed McDougal’s account, eventually paying her for the rights to her story. Trump later repaid Cohen for this transaction, which prosecutors argue was falsely recorded as legal expenses.
Regarding adult film actor Stormy Daniels’ claim of a sexual encounter with Trump, Pecker noted he played a lesser role, refusing to pay for her story but advising Cohen to do so. Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard facilitated the negotiation of a $130,000 deal with Daniels, which Trump allegedly repaid in a questionable manner.
Trump faces charges related to falsifying business records in connection to these payments. He has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts brought against him in this trial. Pecker’s testimony serves as a crucial component in establishing the timeline and motivations behind the hush money deals orchestrated during the 2016 campaign.