Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker took the stand on Tuesday, delivering bombshell testimony in the ongoing hush money trial of Donald Trump. Pecker revealed a series of payments made by the tabloid to individuals with damaging stories about Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct. These payments were part of a ‘catch and kill’ scheme, where stories were bought but never published, with the intention of preventing them from becoming public during Trump’s presidential campaign.
Pecker’s testimony painted a picture of a close relationship between the Enquirer and the Trump campaign. He described a 2015 meeting with Trump, where he pledged to publish favorable stories about the candidate and suppress potentially damaging ones. The payments to Karen McDougal and Dino Sajudin, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump and fathered a child with him respectively, were far in excess of the tabloid’s usual rates.
Pecker’s testimony is expected to have significant implications for the trial. Prosecutors argue that Trump’s involvement in these payments violated campaign finance laws and obstructed justice. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face significant legal consequences that may impact his political future.
In a separate development, Trump has been accused of violating a gag order by criticizing witnesses and court officials via his social media platform. The prosecution has requested a $10,000 fine for this violation. The trial continues, and the outcome could shape the political landscape ahead of the November elections.
