Pecker confirms he thought there was small chance McDougal’s story could be true
Bove is moving on to former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s agreement now.
Pecker confirms that when an amended agreement was signed giving AMI exclusivity rights in perpetuity, Pecker still thought there was a small chance it could be true.
Bove asks, “You could not walk away from that possibility” that it was true, “however small it might be?” Pecker agrees.
Bove is emphasizing that McDougal’s main interest was that she didn’t want her story published. Pecker agrees.
Trump attorney Emil Bove is attempting to use deals American Media Inc. made with other celebrities to undermine the prosecution’s argument and normalize the conduct, according to Adam Kaufman, a former executive assistant district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
“We’re not talking about illicit payments or a cover up. We’re just talking about the relationship and the defense is doing a good job of normalizing it,” Kaufman told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
He wasn’t President Trump,” prosecution objects to defense referring to Trump as president in 2016
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has objected repeatedly when Bove has referred to Donald Trump as President Trump as he discusses events about 2016.
“He wasn’t President Trump,” Steinglass said.
The judge sustained the objection.
Trump did not react at all during this back and forth. He is leaned back in his chair, his head cocked to look at Pecker, as he’s answering questions.
Pecker agrees story from Trump Tower doorman, if true, could have been one of the tabloid’s “biggest” ever
Defense attorney Emil Bove asks ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker whether a story from Dino Sajudin, a Trump Tower doorman who was selling information about Donald Trump allegedly fathering a son, could have been “the biggest National Enquirer article ever.”
Pecker agrees that it could have been.
Bove then asks, “So if this story was true you were going to run it right.”
Pecker answers, “Uh, yes.”
Pecker recounts phone call with Trump about former Playboy model
Ex-National Enquirer boss David Pecker has been asked to recount a phone call with Donald Trump in which Trump asked about former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with the former president.
In June 2016, Pecker left a company meeting when he was informed by his assistant that he got a call from Trump.
On the call, Trump said, “I spoke to Michael (Cohen) and I want to talk to you about Karen McDougal,” Pecker testifies.
Trump attorney Emil Bove asks if the former publisher recalls telling Trump, “She doesn’t want her story published.”
“Yes, I remember saying that,” Pecker said.
Pecker hesitated at times in the testimony, appearing to lose his train of thought, and explained after one long pause that he “just wanted to make sure” he remembered.
Pecker describes when Trump told him not to buy stories because that “always gets out”
Pecker is recounting his previous testimony, where Pecker says that Trump told him he did not buy stories because that “always gets out.”
Bove is showing Pecker the agreement with McDougal
Bove is now showing Pecker the AMI agreement with former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Bove confirms with Pecker that while he testified on direct examination that the promised articles and cover photo provisions were meant to “hide” the actual intention of the agreement to suppress her story, AMI was still on the hook for following through on the legitimate work product.
Ex-tabloid boss says Michael Cohen asked him to send paparazzi to his meeting with Mark Cuban
In summer 2016, then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen told National Enquirer publisher David Pecker he was looking to work with business mogul Mark Cuban, Pecker testified.
Cohen asked Pecker to send paparazzi to a meeting the attorney had with Cuban, Pecker says.
Defense attorney Emil Bove pushes Pecker to agree that photographing such a meeting would “put a little pressure” on Trump by elevating Cohen. Pecker says Cohen never told him that, but he agrees that it would have been a consequence.
Remember: Cohen’s testimony is expected to play a key role in the hush money criminal case, and prosecutors has warned the jury that the defense will “go to great lengths to get you to reject his testimony” by highlighting his past wrongdoing.
Pecker stands by previous testimony that Trump thanked him for handling potentially damaging stories
Defense attorney Emil Bove is asking about Pecker’s testimony that Trump thanked him for handling the situation surrounding potentially damaging stories from former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump tower doorman.
Bove asks Pecker of the testimony, “Was that a mistake?”
“No,” Pecker says, furrowing his brow.
“You believe that President Trump said that to you, as you sit here right now?”
Pecker said, “Yes I do.”
Specifically, Bove asks Pecker about his testimony yesterday, when the ex-tabloid boss said Trump thanked him for the door man story.
“Was that another mistake?” Bove challenges Pecker
Pecker responds, “No.”
What we’re covering here
- Ex-tabloid boss testifies: Former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial continues with the cross-examination of David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer. The court is taking a short break.
- What he’s said so far: Pecker, the prosecution’s first witness, testified about the deal he helped broker with adult film star Stormy Daniels, which is at the center of the case, and the tabloid’s efforts to suppress stories that could have harmed Trump’s 2016 campaign. Prosecutors accuse Trump of taking part in an illegal conspiracy to undermine the election’s integrity, which included Daniels’ payment.
- Gag order decision looms: The judge said he will consider four additional Trump gag order violations alleged by the prosecution. He is yet to rule on the others.
- Trump’s legal issues: Trump is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges. Catch up on all four of his ongoing criminal cases.
Source: CNN, Author: CNN’s Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse
