David Pecker Breaks His Silence in Trump Hush-Money Trial
NEW YORK — David Pecker, the former National Enquirer boss, made a dramatic entrance as the first witness in Donald Trump’s historic hush-money trial. Sitting in a Manhattan courtroom, Pecker revealed shocking details about the tabloid’s operations and “catch and kill” operations.
Pecker candidly admitted, “We used checkbook journalism and we paid for stories.” This was the first time Pecker publicly acknowledged the practice of buying exclusive rights to stories to prevent their publication, a tactic that gained notoriety during the 2016 presidential election.
Pecker’s involvement in shielding Trump from affair allegations by purchasing rights to damaging stories, like the Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels cases, has been well-documented. However, his testimony provided new insights into the inner workings of the Enquirer.
During his brief time on the stand, Pecker confirmed that editors could spend up to $10,000 on a story without his approval, but anything more required his explicit consent. As the chairman of AMI, he was directly involved in approving stories that could impact Trump.
Pecker’s testimony seemed to rattle Trump, who sat stoically as his former ally shared details of the scheme that has landed him in legal trouble. Despite a brief exchange after Pecker stepped down, Trump’s courtroom demeanor reflected the gravity of the situation.
The trial is just beginning, with Pecker set to return to the stand for further revelations. Prosecutors are relying on his testimony to expose the conspiracy to influence the election, as Pecker’s close ties to Trump could hold crucial evidence.
As the trial unfolds, the sordid details of tabloid journalism will be on full display, shedding light on how the Enquirer bolstered Trump’s candidacy in 2016. Pecker’s private email account, filled with salacious tabloid secrets, may hold the key to Trump’s legal fate.
