The former National Enquirer publisher testified how he helped Trump's 2016 campaign by suppressing negative stories.

Speculation has risen as to why Donald Trump has not risked violating his gag order to attack former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker following his damning testimony in the hush money trial.

Pecker, the former head of America Media, which owns the tabloid, was the first witness to take the stand in New York in the former president’s falsifying business records trial,during which he discussed setting up an arrangement to help stop negative stories about Trump from coming out ahead of the 2016 election.

While under oath, Pecker said he had concerns about the legality of performing a so-called “catch and kill” by paying Playboymodel Karen McDougal $180,000 to keep a story about an alleged affair between her and the former president from coming out ahead of the 2016 election.

  • zcd
    101·
    7 months ago

    No shit that guy has the receipts

    • baldingpudenda@lemmy.world
      301·
      7 months ago

      He’s been falling asleep except for when pecker is testifying. The reporters have said his demeanor completely changed. Went from just sitting there to leaning forward or folding his arms.

      I wonder if you look back at photos of him doing that, if he’s being told shit he doesn’t like.

    • Bipta@kbin.social
      42·
      7 months ago

      Trump apparently told people in the White House that Pecker knew more than anyone in the room. Pecker said that was a joke, but we all know Trump doesn’t joke.

    • baru@lemmy.world
      6·
      7 months ago

      I saw a video where they described what was said in the trial. Apparently they sometimes buy stories just to have something to use as pressure on people. I’m pretty sure that you’re right, Trump is quiet because he is forced to.

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    30·
    7 months ago

    It would be great if there was some legal way to get Pecker to spill ALL the goods on donnie. Everything.

  • Haus@kbin.social
    264·
    7 months ago

    The DA figured it out: if you want to shut Trump up, just show him your Pecker.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    7·
    7 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Speculation has risen as to why Donald Trump has not risked violating his gag order to attack former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker following his damning testimony in the hush money trial.

    Pecker, the former head of America Media, which owns the tabloid, was the first witness to take the stand in New York in the former president’s falsifying business records trial, during which he discussed setting up an arrangement to help stop negative stories about Trump from coming out ahead of the 2016 election.

    While under oath, Pecker said he had concerns about the legality of performing a so-called “catch and kill” by paying Playboy model Karen McDougal $180,000 to keep a story about an alleged affair between her and the former president from coming out ahead of the 2016 election.

    Prosecutors argue that Trump, Pecker, and Cohen “orchestrated a cover-up to interfere” with the 2016 presidential election by concealing negative information about the Republican from becoming public.

    Speaking on the LegalAF podcast, trial lawyer Michael Popok noted that Trump has so far refused to make any damning statements about Pecker, despite frequently willing to risk a fine or even jail to violate his gag order to attack Cohen.

    “Trump might say he was worried about Melania, but Pecker underscored the DA’s charge that influencing voters was very much behind the whole catch-and-kill plot,” Goldfeder told Newsweek.

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