Days before Donald J. Trump took office in 2017, a group of officials and allies, including the publisher of The National Enquirer, gathered at Trump Tower. The publisher, David Pecker, had played a crucial role in paying off a Playboy model, Karen McDougal, who alleged an affair with Trump, and a doorman with claims of a child out of wedlock. Trump thanked Pecker for handling the situations, acknowledging the potential embarrassment of the stories.
During the trial against Trump, Pecker revealed how he helped suppress damaging stories about Trump, including a hush-money deal with Stormy Daniels. The prosecution focused on a conspiracy between Pecker, Trump, and Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, to hide these stories. Pecker’s testimony detailed the intricate steps taken to prevent the damaging information from coming to light.
Pecker explained the practice of “catch and kill,” where stories are bought with no intention of publication, to keep damaging information out of the public eye. He disclosed buying McDougal’s story for $150,000 and disguising the payment as services to avoid legal issues. The motive was clear – protect Trump’s campaign and avoid damaging revelations.
The Trump campaign was particularly concerned about Daniels’ story surfacing as they were reeling from the fallout of the Access Hollywood tape. Pecker revealed how he warned Cohen of Daniels’ intentions to sell her story and ultimately left Cohen to handle the $130,000 payoff. Trump’s alleged falsification of business records related to this repayment resulted in 34 felony charges against him.
During cross-examination, Pecker acknowledged buying stories as leverage for access to celebrities and informing Trump of negative stories before he ran for president. Trump’s legal team attempted to portray Pecker as unreliable, citing minor inconsistencies in his testimony. However, Pecker remained composed and stuck to his version of events.
Pecker recounted the dealings with McDougal, who chose to stay quiet to avoid becoming a public scandal. Cohen assured Pecker that Trump would cover the payment, leading to a shell company being set up for repayment. However, concerns about the legality of the transaction ultimately led to its cancellation. Trump expressed disappointment when The National Enquirer’s deal with McDougal was leaked just before the election.
Despite the fallout from the McDougal deal, Trump continued to inquire about her well-being in subsequent meetings with Pecker. The trial showcased the lengths Pecker went to in keeping damaging information about Trump from being public and the complex web of payments and cover-ups that ensued. Trump’s denial of any wrongdoing and potential legal consequences loomed over the trial proceedings.
