A veteran tabloid publisher testified on Tuesday that he pledged to be Donald Trump's “eyes and ears” during his 2016 presidential campaign. David Pecker recounted how he promised to help suppress harmful stories and even arranged to purchase the silence of a doorman. The testimony was aimed at highlighting the decades-long friendship between Trump and the former publisher of the National Enquirer, culminating in an agreement to give Trump's lawyer a heads-up on negative tips and stories for suppression.
Pecker detailed his involvement in Trump's political journey, from a novice to the Republican nomination and the White House. He explained how he and the National Enquirer published stories that smeared Trump's opponents and suppressed negative stories about Trump, including a porn actor's claim of an extramarital encounter.
Their relationship began in the 1980s and solidified during a pivotal meeting at Trump Tower in August 2015. Pecker volunteered to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents, promising to be Trump's “eyes and ears” in the marketplace.
Prosecutors displayed headlines from the National Enquirer praising Trump and disparaging his opponents. Pecker described Cohen as a shadow editor directing the tabloid's coverage in favor of Trump.
Pecker testified about payments made to silence damaging stories, including a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels and a $150,000 payment to a former Playboy model. He also mentioned a $30,000 payment to a doorman for a story about Trump fathering a child, which was deemed untrue.
The charges against Trump stem from reimbursements made to Cohen for hush money payments, falsely recorded as legal expenses. A conviction could result in up to four years in prison, though it's uncertain if imprisonment will be pursued. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
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