(Reuters) – David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, is expected to be the first witness for the prosecution of former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, when he is certain to be asked about a scheme at the heart of the hush-money trial.
The New York Times on Sunday reported Pecker was set to go first, citing an unidentified person familiar with plan.
Here’s a look at Pecker’s role and what he may testify about:
– Pecker was the chief executive of American Media and publisher of tabloid newspaper the National Enquirer from 1999 until August 2020.
– He was a longtime friend of Trump who helped cover up potentially damaging stories about the businessman and candidate ahead of the 2016 presidential campaign.
– It was unclear whether Pecker agreed to testify voluntarily or is being compelled by subpoena, or how close he may still be to the former president.
– Prosecutors say Pecker met with Trump and his former attorney Michel Cohen at Trump Tower in August 2015 to discuss using the National Enquirer to suppress negative stories about Trump by buying exclusive rights to them and never publishing them – a practice known as “catch and kill.”
– One of those instances involved adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said she had an affair with Trump and was paid $130,000 not to tell any other media about it.
– That payment forms part of the case against Trump, who is accused of falsification of business records. Cohen, who has since split with Trump and will testify against him, has said he made that payment at Trump’s direction.
– Trump has denied the encounter with Daniels and said the payment was personal and was not related to the campaign.
– Pecker and American Media provided prosecutors with details about Cohen’s payment to Daniels after being subpoenaed by federal investigators in April 2018, according to prosecutors. Pecker was later granted immunity in exchange for testimony about Trump’s knowledge of the payment.
– Pecker will also testify that he ran stories in the tabloid to boost Trump’s 2016 campaign, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said.
– On at least two occasions, in January and March of 2023, Pecker testified before the Manhattan grand jury that investigated Trump, a person familiar with the matter said.
– Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges stemming from the payoff and went to prison for campaign finance violations, among other crimes.
– American Media Inc (AMI), then publisher of the National Enquirer, in 2018 acknowledged paying $150,000 to another woman, former Playboy magazine model Karen McDougal, to prevent her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta)
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