Donald Trump’s hush money trial: Day one recap from inside courtroom
Donald Trump’s hush money trial is now underway with prosecutors and the defense presenting opening arguments to a 12-person jury.
NEW YORK — David Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media Inc., the parent of company of National Enquirer, testified that Enquirer Editor-in-Chief Dylan Howard believed porn star Stormy Daniels’ allegation of an affair with Donald Trump on Thursday.
As part of his testimony in Trump’s New York criminal hush money trial about an alleged scheme to “catch and kill” stories that could embarrass Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election, Pecker also testified that Trump described Karen McDougal − a Playboy model who alleged an affair with Trump − as “a nice girl.” Trump denies the affair allegations.
The former president faces 34 charges of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments made by his former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s live updates from inside and outside the Manhattan courtroom:
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has been asking David Pecker about a conciliation agreement, which was separate from the non-prosecution agreement that American Media Inc. entered into with federal prosecutions. In the conciliation agreement, the company was agreeing not to contest that it committed a campaign violation, Pecker testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker read aloud a statement made as part of the non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and The National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc. The company entered into the agreement to shield itself from prosecution on campaign finance violations.
The statement describes a history Pecker has now testified to in court, including agreeing to help Trump’s campaign efforts by catching potential negative stories before they hit the press. It also describes the $150,000 hush money to Karen McDougal.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker said that as part of a September 2018 non-prosecution agreement that American Media Inc. entered into with federal prosecutors, Pecker reviewed a statement of facts having to do with things Pecker says the company did for Trump ahead of the 2016 election. The agreement required the company and its representatives to cooperate and give truthful testimony and information. In return, it would be protected from criminal prosecution for campaign finance violations.
As part of that agreement, the company made several admissions, Pecker confirmed.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker testified that Trump called him and asked if he saw Stormy Daniels’ interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Daniels did that interview after McDougal did an interview with Cooper.
Trump told Pecker there was an agreement with Daniels that she cannot mention his name or do anything like this, and each time she breaches the agreement it’s a $1 million penalty, Pecker testified. Trump added that, based on the Cooper interview, Daniels owed Trump $24 million.
– Aysha Bagchi
David Pecker said Trump called him and asked if he had seen an interview between CNN journalist Anderson Cooper and Karen McDougal. Pecker confirmed he had, and Trump said he thought there was an agreement that McDougal couldn’t give interviews or be on television shows. Pecker said he amended it to allow her to speak to the press.
“Mr. Trump got very aggravated,” Pecker testified. Trump couldn’t understand why Pecker amended the agreement. Pecker told Trump McDougal was flooded with press requests for interviews, so he amended the agreement, even though he also paid her.
Trump was “very upset” and couldn’t understand why Pecker amended the agreement, Pecker testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
Pecker described having lunch with Karen McDougal. From his standpoint, the purpose was to make sure he and his company were compliant with their agreement with McDougal. Pecker said he wanted her to believe that because he wanted her not to speak to the press after the Wall Street Journal article…
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