In the summer of 2016, Michael Cohen, who was then an attorney for Donald Trump, reportedly informed National Enquirer publisher David Pecker about his intention to collaborate with business magnate Mark Cuban. According to Pecker's testimony, Cohen requested that paparazzi be sent to a meeting he was scheduled to have with Cuban.
During the trial, defense attorney Emil Bove pressed Pecker to acknowledge that photographing the meeting would exert pressure on Trump by boosting Cohen's status. While Cohen did not explicitly communicate this to Pecker, the publisher agreed that it could have been a potential outcome of such actions.
Cohen's testimony is anticipated to be a pivotal element in the ongoing hush money criminal case. Prosecutors have cautioned the jury that the defense will likely attempt to discredit Cohen's testimony by emphasizing his past misdeeds.