Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified on Tuesday, revealing details of his involvement in offering to be the 'eyes and ears' of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. This pledge led to an agreement to provide Trump's personal lawyer with advance notice of negative stories that could impact the then-candidate's political aspirations.
Pecker elaborated on the agreement, stating that the tabloid ran negative stories about Trump's political opponents and even paid for a doorman's silence after he made allegations about Trump fathering a child. The trial, which resumed after a morning hearing on alleged gag order violations, saw Pecker as the sole witness.
Prosecutors have accused Trump, Pecker, and Michael Cohen of collaborating on a 'catch-and-kill' strategy to suppress negative stories, including a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied the encounter with Daniels.
The trial marks the first criminal case against a former U.S. president and one of four prosecutions of Trump. The proceedings have revealed internal National Enquirer emails and invoices related to payments made to silence stories about Trump.
Pecker testified that he had never paid to bury a story about Trump before the doorman incident. He detailed the process of verifying the story's authenticity and emphasized that the tabloid concluded the allegations were false.
Pecker also disclosed that Cohen would request negative articles about Trump's political opponents, which the National Enquirer would publish with embellishments. The former publisher aimed to keep the 2015 agreement confidential, highlighting his desire to assist Trump's campaign discreetly.
The trial will resume on Thursday, with Pecker's testimony shedding light on the tabloid's role in shaping narratives during the 2016 election and Trump's amplification of dubious claims. The case continues to unfold, offering insights into the intricate relationships between media, politics, and power.
