The ongoing criminal trial of former President Donald Trump has involved the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer. Pecker described his involvement in the suppression of stories about Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Mr. Trump. The charges against Mr. Trump include falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Ms. Daniels. If convicted, Mr. Trump could face probation or prison.
One key revelation from Pecker’s testimony was his involvement in a scheme to suppress stories about Mr. Trump’s affairs with Ms. McDougal and Ms. Daniels. Pecker testified that his company, AMI, paid Ms. McDougal $150,000 for her story but had no intention of publishing it. Instead, he expected Mr. Trump to reimburse the payment. Pecker’s reluctance to pay for a third story led to the hush-money deal with Ms. Daniels, which forms the basis of the prosecution’s case.
Prosecutors have also attempted to demonstrate that the payments made to Ms. McDougal and Ms. Daniels were part of a scheme to influence the 2016 election. Pecker testified that the payments were disguised as contracts for services to avoid violating campaign finance laws. He also suggested that Mr. Trump’s concerns about the affairs becoming public were more related to the election than personal matters.
Pecker recounted instances where Mr. Trump inquired about Ms. McDougal, even after his election. Mr. Trump referred to her as “our girl” during a meeting at Trump Tower and asked about her during a meeting at the White House. Despite Mr. Trump’s concerns, Pecker reassured him that everything was fine. Despite Mr. Trump’s demands and displeasure, Pecker considered him a mentor and friend.
During cross-examination, Mr. Trump’s lawyers attempted to show that the deals made by AMI were standard operating procedure in the tabloid business and that only about half of the stories purchased were published. This strategy aims to present the actions deemed criminal by the prosecution as commonplace in the tabloid industry. The cross-examination also revealed the unsavory side of tabloid journalism, including the use of purchased stories as leverage against celebrities. Names like Arnold Schwarzenegger were mentioned in connection with this practice.
The cross-examination is set to continue, with the possibility of more notable names being brought into the discussion. The defense’s strategy of normalizing the actions taken by AMI in dealing with stories may continue to clash with the prosecution’s view of these actions as criminal. The trial will continue to unfold as more witnesses are called to testify and more details of Mr. Trump’s involvement in the alleged scheme are brought to light.
