During the trial, David Pecker revealed that he had enlisted a consultant to collaborate with Michael Cohen on the reimbursement related to the Karen McDougal case. Pecker informed Cohen of this arrangement and facilitated the introduction between the two parties. He mentioned that he connected the consultant with Cohen and established a company named Resolution Consultants to handle the billing process.
However, it's important to note that Judge Juan Merchan cautioned the jury not to consider the truth of the document presented as evidence, but rather acknowledge its creation.
When questioned about using the consultant as an intermediary, Pecker explained that he opted for this approach to avoid receiving payment directly from the Trump Organization or Michael Cohen through the AMI finance department. He expressed concerns that such a payment would lead to inquiries and complications.
Pecker clarified that the $125,000 invoice was not for advisory services as indicated but rather for acquiring the lifetime rights to Karen McDougal's story. This revelation shed light on the true nature of the transaction, deviating from the initial description of the billing.