The lawyer who negotiated hush money deals for Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, related to their alleged affairs with Donald Trump, texted a tabloid editor saying that Trump had “f—d you, idiot”. This lawyer, Keith Davidson, did not explicitly name Trump in the text message, but it was sent months into Trump’s first term in office. Davidson and the tabloid editor, Dylan Howard, were involved in a “catch-and-kill” scheme to bury negative stories about Trump, but later appeared to regret their involvement.
Former tabloid boss David Pecker testified about the scheme to suppress negative stories about Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. This included burying stories from Daniels and McDougal. Pecker admitted to killing stories to help Trump’s chances of winning the election. The prosecution is using this testimony to demonstrate that the suppression of allegations was politically motivated. Trump is facing 34 felony charges for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to these women.
During the trial, evidence showed Davidson expressing regret over their involvement in the scheme after Trump’s victory in the 2016 election. Despite initial concerns, Davidson and Howard discussed trying to get tickets to Trump’s inauguration. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, was involved in the scheme to bury damaging stories, and Pecker, Howard, and Davidson were key players in this effort. The trial continues with further testimony and evidence being presented.
The defence has tried to cast doubt on Pecker’s testimony, suggesting inconsistencies and questioning his credibility. They have also tried to show that the tabloid had its own motivations for publishing stories and engaging in chequebook journalism. The prosecution, meanwhile, is focused on demonstrating the political motivations behind the hush money payments and the suppression of stories that could have been damaging to Trump’s campaign.
As the trial continues, there have been moments of levity in the courtroom, with reporters being told to quiet down when they laugh at Pecker’s responses. The proceedings also saw a cross-examination where Pecker struggled to recall details of a conversation with Trump. The defence has attempted to undermine Pecker’s credibility and highlight the tabloid’s editorial practices. Meanwhile, a separate hearing on alleged gag order violations by Trump has been rescheduled for next week. Trump faces multiple charges related to hush money payments and falsifying records, which he has pleaded not guilty to.
