Former magazine executive David Pecker’s testimony took center stage on Tuesday in the trial of former President Trump. Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, revealed details about his involvement in a controversial practice known as “catch and kill,” where he acquired the rights to stories with the intention of suppressing them from publication. Pecker testified that he engaged in this practice to benefit Trump.
This trial marks the first time an American president has faced criminal charges. Trump is accused of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. These charges stem from a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign.
David Pecker (Credits: CNN)
Daniels alleged she had a sexual encounter with Trump about a decade earlier, and the payment was aimed at preventing her from publicly disclosing this information.
The payment to Daniels was facilitated by Trump’s former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen. Subsequently, Trump’s business made legal retainer payments totaling $420,000 to Cohen. Prosecutors argue that these payments were falsely categorized as business expenses to conceal the fact that Daniels had been paid off.
Donald Trump (Credits: CNN)
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the payments were legitimate legal expenses. He maintains that he did not engage in any improper conduct with Daniels and portrays himself as a victim of political persecution. The trial continues to expose as both sides present their arguments and evidence.
