David Pecker confirmed under oath that he had used catch-and-kill payments to help Donald Trump’s campaign, including paying for silence from former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal regarding her alleged affair with Trump. He also admitted to creating false stories about Trump’s opponents for the National Enquirer. Pecker described an arrangement where positive stories about Trump were published, while negative stories about his opponents were killed or embellished by the Enquirer based on information provided by Trump’s team.
Pecker’s testimony revealed that he was invited to Trump’s campaign launch in 2015 and agreed to help the campaign by running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. He also described fabricating fake news stories at the request of Trump’s fixer, Michael Cohen, to damage Trump’s political rivals. Pecker was pressured by Cohen to create negative stories about Trump’s opponents, resulting in stories that were completely false, such as the Ted Cruz sex scandal and the Ben Carson malpractice story.
Despite the legal case focusing on falsifying business records to hide reimbursements to Cohen, prosecutors attempted to paint a larger picture of Pecker’s involvement in assisting Trump’s campaign. Pecker recounted incidents where he paid for stories that were untrue, as well as negotiations with McDougal to suppress her story in exchange for money. The prosecution’s goal was to show that Pecker’s testimony was more credible than Cohen’s, who had previously been disbarred and jailed, and to build a case against Trump.
Judge Juan Marchan oversaw the proceedings and heard arguments about whether Trump had violated a gag order by attacking witnesses such as Cohen and Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors accused Trump of violating the gag order multiple times and suggested a fine for each incident. Trump’s lawyer argued that there was no willful violation of the gag order and that Trump was allowed to respond to attacks against him. However, Judge Marchan expressed frustration with the lawyer’s arguments and scolded him for not providing clear answers.
Pecker’s testimony will continue with details about the Stormy Daniels story, marking a significant point in the trial. The judge’s reaction to Trump’s alleged violations of the gag order indicates that he is likely to take action against the former president. The case against Trump revolves around illegal payments made to suppress damaging stories during his campaign, shedding light on the controversial tactics used by his associates to protect his image.
Overall, Pecker’s testimony implicates Trump’s involvement in efforts to suppress negative news stories and discredit his opponents during the campaign. The trial highlights how media figures like Pecker played a role in shaping public perception and aiding political candidates. The legal proceedings underscore the ethical dilemmas and legal consequences of using underhanded tactics to manipulate public opinion and maintain power. The outcome of the trial may have significant implications for Trump and others involved in campaign finance violations and attempts to silence dissenting voices.
