Donald Trump’s apprehension surged as he arrived at a New York courthouse on Tuesday, anticipating David Pecker’s return to the stand in Trump’s landmark hush money trial—the first-ever criminal trial against a former U.S. president.
A seasoned figure in the tabloid world testified on Tuesday, Pecker revealed his pledge to Donald Trump to act as his “eyes and ears” throughout his presidential bid in 2016. Pecker recounted how he assured the then-candidate that he would assist in suppressing potentially damaging stories that could jeopardize the Republican’s electoral prospects.
The testimony from Pecker reinforced prosecutors’ claims of a decades-long alliance between Trump and the former head of the National Enquirer, culminating in an agreement to provide advance notice to the candidate regarding negative information or stories, facilitating their suppression.
Trump is facing 34 felony charges of falsifying business records related to payments intended to suppress detrimental stories during the final stages of the 2016 campaign. These stories notably included allegations from a pornographic actor regarding an extramarital encounter a decade earlier.
Prosecutors allege that the effort to suppress unfavorable information was a deliberate attempt to sway the election, seeking to underscore the gravity of the first trial involving a former American president.
Pecker recounted a pivotal meeting in August 2015 at Trump Tower, involving Trump, his lawyer Michael Cohen, personal aide Hope Hicks, and himself, where he was asked about potential contributions from him and the publications he oversaw to aid the campaign.
During his testimony, Pecker revealed his willingness to publish favorable stories about Trump and unfavorable ones about his opponents. Yet, beyond this, he assured Trump, “I will be your eyes and ears,” indicating his commitment to notify Cohen of any negative information or stories circulating in the media, enabling preemptive action to suppress them.
When asked by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass if this was to prevent the stories from being published, Pecker affirmed, “So they would not get published.”
Pecker’s testimony resuming on Tuesday followed a preceding hearing where prosecutors urged Judge Juan Merchan to hold Trump in contempt and impose a $1,000 fine for each of 10 social media posts deemed to violate a previous gag order, barring attacks on witnesses, jurors, and other involved parties.
Although Merchan deferred immediate judgment, he appeared skeptical of the defense’s argument that Trump’s posts were merely responses to attacks from others and asserted compliance with the order.
The outcome of this hearing could entail further financial penalties for Trump, who was fined $15,000 last year for twice violating a gag order during his civil fraud trial in New York. Whether this deters him from making future inflammatory comments or incites further posts remains uncertain. Trump has prominently positioned his legal entanglements at the forefront of his presidential campaign, portraying them as instances of political persecution.
Pecker’s testimony commenced on Monday following opening statements that presented starkly different narratives for the 12-person jury and the broader public. The case unfolds against the backdrop of a tightly contested White House race, with Trump not only the presumptive Republican nominee but also a criminal defendant facing potential felony conviction and imprisonment.
Prosecutors assert that Trump illicitly sought to influence the 2016 election through a practice prevalent in the tabloid industry termed “catch-and-kill”—acquiring potentially damaging stories and then burying them through agreements preventing the involved individuals from disclosing the information.
In this instance, such practices included a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital affair with Trump, which he denies.
In defense, Todd Blanche countered by challenging the government’s case and questioning Cohen’s credibility, vehemently asserting Trump’s innocence and denouncing the Manhattan district attorney’s office for pursuing the case.
Trump currently faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, carrying a hefty prison sentence. It remains unclear whether the judge will seek imprisonment upon conviction. While a conviction would not disqualify Trump from seeking the presidency again, being a state case, he would not have the authority to pardon himself if found guilty. Trump maintains his innocence, vehemently denying any wrongdoing.
Beyond the payment to Daniels, testimony also detailed arrangements to pay former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 to suppress her claims of a nearly yearlong affair with Trump.
According to the testimony, Trump was deeply concerned about the potential impact of this information on the election, highlighting his apprehension amid the unfolding legal proceedings.
