Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker appeared on the stand for the third day, detailing an agreement the tabloid made with a former Playboy model.
David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, revealed new details about his efforts to bury negative stories to shield Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, including a $150,000 deal with a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Trump., Pecker detailed how the Enquirer bought the rights to Karen McDougal's story but never published her allegations, a tactic that would come to be known as"catch and kill.
Pecker testified that those provisions were included to obscure the true purpose of the agreement: preventing McDougal's account from coming to light. He also said AMI crafted the deal to avoid triggering campaign finance laws. Pecker said he first gave Trump a heads up about a story in 1998. Bove said by the meeting in Trump Tower in 2015, Pecker had been"providing President Trump a heads up about negative publicity" for 17 years. Pecker agreed.
"And the first person who called me, if I needed help, was Donald Trump. He was very helpful, recommended an attorney," Pecker recalled. Steinglass, the prosecutor, then displayed another Wall Street Journal headline from Jan. 12, 2018:"Trump Lawyer Arranged $130,000 Payment for Adult-Film Star's Silence." The story was the first public acknowledgement of Cohen's payment to Daniels. At the beginning of March, Daniels, represented by attorney Michael Avenatti,that aired on March 23, 2018. Pecker said he watched it that night, and Trump called him about it the next day.
Pecker said he then spoke with Trump aide Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary. He said he intended to extend the contract with McDougal."They both said it was a good idea," Pecker testified.Pecker said he met with Trump at Trump Tower when he was president-elect in January 2017.
Pecker later added that when Trump said the stories were"embarrassing," he believed Trump was referring to their impact on his campaign.Pecker said he also advocated for Cohen, telling Trump that his attorney was concerned about his year-end bonus.Prosecutors say the reimbursements from Trump to Cohen that are at the heart of the case included not only repayment for money Cohen paid to Daniels, but also Cohen's bonus.
"'Michael, my suggestion to you is you should buy this story and take it off the market,' I said, 'because if you don't and it gets out, I think the boss is going to be very angry with you,'" Pecker testified.David Pecker is questioned by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass as former President Donald Trump looks on during his trial in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Prosecutors displayed an invoice for $125,000 from Investor Advisory Services to Resolution Consultants, dated Sept. 21, 2016. The description of services said the payment represented an"agreed upon flat fee for advisory services." Pecker said the payment was actually for the rights to McDougal's story.
Prosecutors displayed the contract for the jury. The"limited life story rights" covered"any romantic, personal and/or physical relationship McDougal has ever had with any then-married men." Pecker said this was"referring to Donald Trump." "We purchased the story so it wouldn't be published by any other organization," he said later, referring to himself and Cohen."We didn't want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign."With Pecker back on the stand, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass picked up where questioning left off on Tuesday: the second use of"catch and kill" to quash a negative Trump story in 2016.
Howard negotiated terms for the rights to McDougal's story, and brought Pecker the offer: $150,000 for the lifetime rights and other provisions, Pecker testified. He said Cohen grew agitated as negotiations dragged on."'$150,000, who is going to reimburse me for this?'" he said he asked Cohen."And he said, 'Don't worry about it, I'm your friend. The boss will take care of it.
Merchan held a contentious hearing on the motion Tuesday. Prosecutors have asked him to impose a $1,000 fine for each post and order Trump to take them down.
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