Results for: National Enquirer

In the ongoing trial involving former President Donald Trump, his defense lawyers are set to cross-examine David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, who has described helping to suppress negative stories about Trump during the 2016 election. The charges against Trump stem from hush money payments intended to conceal potentially damaging information from emerging before the election. Pecker has provided details on the ‘catch-and-kill’ practices employed by the tabloid, which involved acquiring potentially harmful stories and preventing their publication through paid agreements. The defense’s line of questioning aims to establish that Trump’s dealings were solely intended to protect his reputation and family, and not his campaign.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified in Trump’s trial, revealing Trump’s involvement in silencing women who claimed sexual encounters with him. Pecker paid to suppress stories from McDougal and a doorman, ensuring the media would not publish them. Pecker alerted Trump’s lawyer, Cohen, about Stormy Daniels’ story, but declined to buy it due to concerns about her status as a porn star. Cohen ultimately paid Daniels to stay silent, an act prosecutors allege as a campaign expense that deceived voters. Pecker also revealed that American Media initially agreed to sell McDougal’s story to Trump but canceled the deal after legal concerns.

The ongoing hush money trial of former President Donald Trump has lifted the lid on a murky corner of the media industry: pay-to-play tabloid journalism. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump enjoyed close ties with the National Enquirer, headed by American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker. Pecker testified under oath that he actively sought to be Trump’s “eyes and ears,” engaging in a scheme to “catch” (buy the rights to) and “kill” (never publish) negative Trump stories. Trump is now accused of falsifying documents related to a payment made to Stormy Daniels to suppress her alleged affair with him. Pecker’s testimony highlights the disturbing tactics used by some tabloid outlets, including paying sources for stories and embellishing information to create salacious headlines. While there are arguments for compensating marginalized sources, the practice of buying stories is generally taboo in traditional newsrooms. The National Enquirer’s “checkbook journalism” approach raises concerns about the credibility and independence of such outlets.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s damaging testimony in the hush money trial has raised questions about Donald Trump’s silence on the issue. Pecker has provided detailed information about paying off sources to prevent negative stories about Trump during the 2016 election campaign. Legal analysts believe Pecker’s testimony could significantly damage Trump’s defense, suggesting the former president may be protecting Pecker due to potential incriminating information he holds.

Stephen King has taken to social media to critique Donald Trump’s ongoing hush money trial, posting a sarcastic tweet suggesting the headline ‘PECKER SCREWS TRUMP.’ The tweet references the testimony of David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, who has provided key insights into Trump’s alleged involvement in a hush money scheme during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI), provided damning testimony against former President Donald Trump in a criminal trial, revealing the shadowy tactics used to silence negative stories about Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Pecker admitted to engaging in ‘checkbook journalism’ and participating in ‘catch-and-kill’ operations to bury potentially damaging information about Trump. He described a ‘great, mutually beneficial relationship’ with Trump, who he referred to privately as ‘Donald.’ Pecker’s testimony shed light on the inner workings of AMI’s National Enquirer tabloid, which was used to promote Trump and attack his political rivals.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified in a hush money trial that then-candidate Donald Trump was renowned as the ‘most eligible bachelor’ who ‘dated the most beautiful women.’ Pecker, the prosecution’s opening witness, revealed his relationship with Trump involving the ‘catch-and-kill’ strategy of purchasing and suppressing potentially damaging stories.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz is facing pressure to denounce former President Donald Trump after David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, testified that he helped Trump’s 2016 campaign by manufacturing fake stories about Cruz.

David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, testified in Manhattan Supreme Court about his longstanding relationship with Donald Trump and their agreement to suppress negative stories about the former president during the 2016 presidential campaign. Pecker stated that he agreed to publish positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents in exchange for financial benefits for his magazine.

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker provided details of hush money agreements between Donald Trump and the tabloid at Trump’s ongoing trial for hush money payments. The agreements aimed to suppress damaging information about Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.