Defense Lawyers Scrutinize ‘Catch and Kill’ Tactics in Trump’s Hush Money Trial
As prosecutors continue to present their case in the New York criminal trial against former President Donald Trump, defense lawyers are poised to challenge the testimony of David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer. Pecker has provided detailed accounts of assisting in efforts to suppress potentially damaging stories about Trump during the 2016 election.
At the core of the prosecution’s case are the allegations that Trump sought to illegally influence the election by concealing information unfavorable to his campaign through a practice known as ‘catch and kill.’ This involves purchasing the rights to potentially damaging stories and then preventing their publication through paid agreements. Pecker has described how he and the National Enquirer engaged in rumor-mongering to fabricate sensational stories that both attacked Trump’s opponents and strategized to suppress unfavorable accounts about him.
The defense, however, seeks to undermine Pecker’s testimony by arguing that Trump’s dealings with him were intended to protect his reputation and family, rather than directly influence the election. They have cross-examined Pecker extensively on specific dates and meanings related to the transactions in question.
Pecker has testified that he advised Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to purchase the rights to a story from porn actress Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had an intimate encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied these claims. Pecker claimed that he recommended this action to prevent Daniels from making her allegations public, believing it would anger Trump.
The jury in the Manhattan trial has been attentive to Pecker’s testimony, while the Supreme Court has signaled its likelihood to reject Trump’s claim of immunity from prosecution in a related election interference case in Washington. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with the hush money payments. The outcome of this trial will be closely watched as Trump vies for the Republican presidential nomination and the potential to reclaim the White House in November.
