David Pecker: Ex-National Enquirer publisher takes stand as the first witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: David Pecker, the former chairman of the National Enquirer’s parent company, took the stand as the first witness in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial.

He detailed his role at the National Enquirer’s parent company and his involvement in the approval of big stories involving celebrities.

Why is David Pecker's testimony important?

Pecker was a longtime friend of Trump. From 1999 to 2020, he served as the CEO of National Enquirer's parent company American Media Inc, now known as A360 Media.

Pecker’s testimony is crucial to the prosecutors’ case as they allege that Trump, with Pecker’s assistance, sought to suppress Stormy Daniels' affair allegations before the 2016 election.

In his testimony, he also revealed the company’s practice of “checkbook journalism” and the financial limits set for story investigation and publication. “We used checkbook journalism and we paid for stories," Pecker said.

"I gave a number to the editors that they could not spend more than $10,000 to investigate or produce or publish a story, anything over $10,000 they would spend on a story, they would have to be vetted and brought up to me, for approval,” he added.

David Pecker accepted his role in having the final say about 'big stories' 

Pecker told the jury that any significant stories involving celebrities had to go through him. 

“Being in the publishing industry for 40 years, I realized early in my career that the only thing that was important is the cover of a magazine," Pecker said.

"So when the editors produced the story or prepared a cover, we would have a meeting and they would present to me what the story would be, what the concept was, what the cost was going to be,” he added.

When asked by Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass if he had the final say on big stories or those involving a major figure, Pecker responded, “Yes, I did," CNN reported. 

Why is David Pecker testifying against Donald Trump?

Pecker is expected to return to the stand tomorrow. His testimony is key to prosecutors’ claims that Trump, with Pecker’s help, sought to kill affair allegations before the 2016 election.

Pecker alerted Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen that adult film star Stormy Daniels was trying to sell her story of a 2006 one-night stand with Trump, according to prosecutors.

Cohen then negotiated the hush money payment for Trump, paying Daniels $130,000 allegedly on Trump's instructions and Trump then allegedly falsified dozens of business records to cover up this conspiracy.

Prosecutors claim AMI paid $30,000 to a doorman for information on Trump’s alleged illegitimate child, which was found false, and $150,000 to Karen McDougal for her affair story with Trump which was not published in a “catch and kill” tactic.

Pecker received immunity for helping prosecutors in Cohen’s case and AMI made a deal with the Justice Department to admit paying McDougal without facing charges.

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said in the courtroom that the Trump, David Pecker, and Michael Cohen's "conspiracy began" a few months after Donald Trump announced his candidacy in a meeting with them at Trump Tower in August of 2015.

Cohen, Daniels, and former Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks are also expected to take the witness stand. Trump has also repeatedly promised he will testify, Forbes reported. 

How is the internet reacting to David Pecker taking a stand during Donald Trump's trial? 

"Happy David Pecker Day to those who celebrate," a user posted on X. "I never thought I would celebrate a pecker in trial, but here goes," added one more. 

"So exciting!" added another. "Given Trump’s frequent cry of “fake news” for stories critical of him, it’s notable to see his old friend and ally David Pecker testify under oath about “checkbook journalism”, that is, actually fake news for hire," wrote another. 

"Now, SIX years later, David Pecker is testifying in court against Trump," wrote one more. 

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