The criminal trial of Donald Trump is ongoing, with the recent testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, shedding light on a plot to protect Trump’s first presidential campaign. Pecker described his involvement in suppressing stories from two women who claimed to have had sex with Trump, including Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. Trump is charged with falsifying business records related to a payment to Ms. Daniels, and could face probation or prison if convicted.
During his testimony, Pecker revealed that his company, AMI, paid Ms. McDougal $150,000 to purchase her story, with no intention of publishing it. He expected reimbursement from Trump, but had difficulty getting payment, leading to the involvement of Michael D. Cohen in the hush-money deal with Ms. Daniels. Prosecutors argued that such payments were part of a scheme to influence the 2016 election, with Pecker stating that he wanted to protect himself, his company, and Trump.
Pecker also discussed Trump’s concerns about the affairs with Ms. McDougal, even after his election. Trump inquired about Ms. McDougal during meetings at Trump Tower and the White House, with Pecker reassuring him that everything was fine. Despite Trump’s occasional dissatisfaction with AMI’s actions, Pecker considered Trump a mentor and friend. The relationship between Trump and Pecker, as well as their interactions during the campaign and presidency, were central to the prosecution’s case.
Trump’s defense team began their cross-examination of Pecker, trying to portray the payment deals as standard practice in the tabloid industry. They suggested that such arrangements were commonplace and not criminal, highlighting the tabloid trade’s unsavory tactics such as buying stories as leverage against celebrities. The defense strategy aims to show that the actions taken by AMI and Trump were not out of the ordinary, potentially undermining the prosecution’s case.
The cross-examination also featured mention of other famous names, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, who reportedly asked Pecker not to run negative stories about him during his run for governor of California. This tactic was successful, and Schwarzenegger served as governor from 2003 to 2011. The name-dropping during the trial may continue as the cross-examination of Pecker proceeds. The testimony and evidence presented in the trial will ultimately determine Trump’s fate and whether he will be convicted on the charges related to the hush-money payments and falsified records.
