Former President Donald Trump praised David Pecker, the first witness in his trial in Manhattan, as a “nice guy” before court proceedings. Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc., testified about “catch and kill schemes” where negative information about Trump was allegedly buried before the 2016 election. Specifically, the case involves a payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an affair with Trump in 2006. Pecker stated he couldn’t afford the $120,000 Daniels was selling the rights to her story for, prompting discussions with Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen.
Prosecutors claim that after Cohen paid Daniels in exchange for silence on the alleged affair, Trump improperly logged reimbursements to the lawyer as legal expenses. They are trying to prove that Trump falsified business records in connection with another crime, the violation of a New York law against “conspiracy to promote or prevent an election.” The trial coincided with arguments in the Supreme Court on another case involving election interference charges against Trump stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol breach. The court is considering if Trump has presidential immunity in this case.
During a press briefing, Trump mentioned the Supreme Court case on presidential immunity and asserted that a president needs immunity. He also referred to the trial in Manhattan where Pecker testified about the “catch and kill schemes” related to Daniels’ allegations. Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters chanted “We want Trump” at the event. The case against Trump involves 34 charges of falsifying business records, with Pecker testifying about his knowledge of Daniels’ claims after the “Access Hollywood” tape controversy in 2016. Pecker stated he couldn’t afford to buy Daniels’ story, leading to discussions with Cohen and further legal actions.
The NY v. Trump case revolves around allegations of payments made to silence negative stories about Trump before the 2016 election, with Pecker’s testimony shedding light on the “catch and kill schemes” used by media companies. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is considering Trump’s presidential immunity in another case related to election interference charges stemming from the Capitol breach in January 2021. Trump expressed his belief in the need for presidential immunity and criticized a judge for not allowing him to attend the Supreme Court proceedings. Supporters of Trump voiced their support during the events surrounding the trial and Supreme Court case proceedings.
