This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/25/david-pecker-testimony-trump-trial

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
David Pecker, Trump’s ‘eyes and ears’, resumes testimony in hush-money trial David Pecker says he bought McDougal story so it did not hurt Trump campaign
(about 2 hours later)
Former National Enquirer publisher says he helped Trump to suppress negative stories that threatened 2016 election campaign Former National Enquirer publisher says he helped Trump to suppress negative stories that threatened 2016 presidential bid
The former tabloid publisher David Pecker took the stand again at Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial on Thursday, following his testimony earlier in the week. The former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker told the court in Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial on Thursday that he specifically bought a story from the Playboy model Karen McDougal to bury it so that it did not “embarrass or hurt the [Trump] campaign”.
Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer, testified that he used his position to help Trump kill negative stories that threatened his campaign. Following his testimony earlier in the week, Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media Inc (AMI), which publishes the Enquirer, explained how he used his position to help Trump kill McDougal’s story about a 10-month affair she says they had in 2006.
After Trump announced his run for presidency, he invited Pecker and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, to a meeting at Trump Tower, Pecker said. Trump said he was looking for a media insider who could help suppress negative stories – a tactic prosecutors call “catch-and-kill”. Pecker admitted that AMI’s goal was to try to prevent the story from interfering with the Trump campaign, and that he was nervous about whether the payment would violate campaign contribution laws.
“They asked me what can I do – and what magazines could do – to help the campaign,” Pecker said, adding that he said he would be the “eyes and ears” for the campaign. The contention that Trump’s similar hush-money payments to the porn star Stormy Daniels two months later were specifically aimed at influencing the 2016 election is central to the prosecution’s case.
Prosecutors allege Pecker ultimately connected Trump to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, before the election. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up a $130,000 payment in 2016 to Daniels over a 2006 affair. “We didn’t want this story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign,” Pecker said, referring to himself and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer.
Prosecutors asked Pecker to detail how AMI went about paying McDougal $150,000 for her story in August 2016. He said he worked with the former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard and Cohen to facilitate the payment.
Pecker recalled a phone call with Trump after the then-candidate was informed about McDougal’s story. Trump, Pecker recalls, said “Karen is a nice girl” and asked Pecker for advice as to whether they should buy her story.
“I think you should buy the story and take it off the market,” Pecker recalled telling Trump.
Though Pecker expressed to Cohen nervousness about the amount AMI was paying to McDougal, Cohen said that Trump would take care of it, reiterating, “Don’t worry, I’m your friend. The boss will take care of it.”
Prosecutors asked Pecker if there was any reason why he was nervous about making the payment through AMI. He replied that the company had once bought a story from a woman with a story about Arnold Schwarzenegger while he was running for governor of California. She ended up going public anyway, and AMI was investigated by the authorities for potential campaign contribution violations, Pecker said.
While Pecker did not go into detail about the fallout from the Schwarzenegger story, he confirmed to prosecutors that AMI consulted with an election law attorney when they were considering paying McDougal for her story.
In the agreement AMI made with McDougal, the company included language that said she would be doing work for the company, writing a monthly column on ageing and fitness. While the main purpose of the agreement was to buy the rights to her story about Trump, the company wanted to make it seem like they had a “basis” for paying McDougal.
“I wanted the contract to be a record for the services that she was going to perform for American Media,” Pecker said.
The jury was shown records of the $150,000 payment, including an invoice from McDougal’s lawyer.
While AMI was on the verge of giving Cohen, and thus Trump, the rights to McDougal’s story for $125,000, Pecker said he ultimately backed out of the agreement after talking with lawyers. He would not say what they discussed, citing attorney-client privilege.
Cohen was “very, very angry, screaming basically” when the agreement was called off. He recalled Cohen saying, “I can’t believe it, I’m a lawyer, I’m your friend, I don’t understand why you’re concerned.” Ultimately, Cohen agreed to call off the agreement.
Earlier in the week, Pecker said that Trump invited him and Cohen to a meeting at Trump Tower after Trump announced his run for the presidency in 2015. Trump said he was looking for a media insider who could help suppress negative stories – a tactic known as “catch-and-kill”.
Sign up to Trump on TrialSign up to Trump on Trial
Stay up to date on all of Donald Trump’s trials. Guardian staff will send weekly updates each Wednesday – as well as bonus editions on major trial days.Stay up to date on all of Donald Trump’s trials. Guardian staff will send weekly updates each Wednesday – as well as bonus editions on major trial days.
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
Along with Daniels, prosecutors allege American Media paid off two others who had salacious stories about Trump: a doorman who said Trump had a child out of wedlock, and a former Playboy model who said she had an extramarital affair with Trump. “They asked me what can I do – and what magazines could do – to help the campaign,” Pecker said, adding that he said he would be the “eyes and ears” for the campaign.
Pecker confirmed that American Media paid the doorman, Dino Sajudin, $30,000 for his story, essentially quashing it by not making it public. Prosecutors allege Pecker ultimately connected Trump to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, before the election.
Before Pecker’s testimony ended for the day on Tuesday, prosecutors had begun to ask him about Karen McDougal, the Playboy model prosecutors say was paid $150,000 by American Media for her story about an affair with Trump. Though the trial ended for the day before Pecker could talk about the payment, Pecker said Cohen appeared to be under a “lot of pressure” to get answers on McDougal as the National Enquirer investigated her story. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up a $130,000 payment in 2016 to Daniels over a 2006 affair.
Also on Tuesday – the trial was off on Wednesday – Juan Merchan, the judge, held a hearing on Trump’s alleged violation on his gag order, barring him from speaking publicly about prosecutors, witnesses, the jury, court staff and their relatives. Along with McDougal and Daniels, prosecutors allege American Media paid off a doorman who claimed Trump had a child out of wedlock. Pecker confirmed that American Media paid the doorman, Dino Sajudin, $30,000 for his story, essentially quashing it by not making it public.
Prosecutors say Trump violated the gag order 11 times, posting on social media attacking Cohen and Daniels. Trump’s lawyers argue that Trump did not violate the gag order and was responding to “political attacks”. Prosecutors said Merchan should hold Trump contempt of court and fine him $1,000 for each violation. Merchan has yet to rule on the alleged violations. Before Pecker even took the stand on Thursday, prosecutors said that Trump had violated his gag order – which bars him from speaking publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, jurors, court staff and their relatives – four more times over the course of the week. This brings the total violations to 14, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors said Trump had continued to talk about the witnesses, including saying that Pecker had been a “nice guy”.
“This is a message to Pecker, be nice. This is a message to others,’ I have a platform, and I can talk about you,’” prosecutor Chris Conroy told Judge Juan Merchan. “It’s a message to everyone in this courtroom.”
Prosecutors said Merchan should hold Trump contempt of court and fine him $1,000 for each violation. Merchan has yet to rule on the alleged violations.
Pecker is the first witness to testify in the trial, which is in its seventh day and is expected to last six weeks.Pecker is the first witness to testify in the trial, which is in its seventh day and is expected to last six weeks.