The high-profile trial of former President Donald Trump has taken a dramatic turn as David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, resumed his witness testimony amid sharp cross-examination from Trump’s defense team. Pecker, once an ally of Trump, has been on the stand recounting his involvement in what prosecutors allege were efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election by suppressing damaging stories.
Pecker testified that Trump, along with his then-lawyer Michael Cohen, had asked him to serve as their “eyes and ears” for potential stories that could harm Trump’s candidacy. He recounted the suppression of stories from three individuals – a doorman, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and adult film actor Stormy Daniels – which he says were kept out of the public eye at Trump’s behest.
Trump’s lawyer, Emil Bove, has been strenuously working to undermine Pecker’s credibility. On Thursday, he questioned Pecker’s memory and pointed out discrepancies between Pecker’s testimony and previous statements. Bove highlighted moments where Pecker had “mixed up dates” and suggested that the passage of time may have affected his recall, asking, “There are some gaps, correct? Because it was a long time ago?” Pecker acknowledged the potential for memory gaps.
Bove also delved into the practices of the National Enquirer, noting that it was commonplace for the publication to purchase stories without the intent to print them, using them instead for leverage with celebrities. Pecker confirmed that the Enquirer had bought around half the stories it acquired without printing them. In a poignant moment, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass inquired how many of those non-disclosure agreements were coordinated with a presidential candidate for campaign purposes, to which Pecker responded, “It’s the only one.”
The defense’s line of questioning suggests an attempt to paint a picture of ambiguity around Trump’s intent, with Pecker conceding that terms like “catch-and-kill” were not explicitly used in the 2015 meeting with Trump and Cohen and that there was no discussion of the “financial dimension” of such arrangements.
Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records connected to the alleged hush money payments. The former president has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, labeling the charges a “political witch hunt.”
Relevant articles:
– Key prosecution witness in Trump trial faces grilling from former president’s lawyers, NBC News, 04/27/2024
– Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump, The Associated Press, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 01:38:00 GMT
– Key players: Who’s who at Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial, ABC News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:11:13 GMT
– Trump’s lawyers set to grill David Pecker in hush money trial, NBC News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 17:25:07 GMT
– Witness testimony continues in Trump’s New York hush money trial, Al Jazeera English, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:23:07 GMT