Former National Enquirer publisher details efforts to suppress stories during the 2016 campaign as Trump contests gag order.
The hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump continued with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker returning for a second day of testimony. Pecker gave a detailed account of his collaboration with Trump and his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to suppress negative stories during the 2016 presidential campaign. The trial, drawing intense media attention, unfolded under the scrutiny of New York Judge Juan Merchan.
Pecker’s testimony on Tuesday highlighted his discussions with Trump about purchasing and burying stories detrimental to Trump’s image, including one involving ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal. Pecker disclosed that Trump was hesitant about acquiring the rights to the story, fearing it would eventually leak regardless of efforts to keep it under wraps.
The focus then shifted to another controversial aspect: a story from a Trump Tower doorman, Dino Sajudin, who claimed Trump fathered an illegitimate child. Although deemed false by Pecker, the story was bought to prevent other outlets from picking it up, a move Pecker justified as necessary to avoid campaign embarrassment.
Amid the legal proceedings, Trump was also noted for his public dissatisfaction with a gag order restricting his comments about the trial. He voiced his frustrations outside the courtroom, criticizing the order as “unconstitutional” and lamenting the restrictions it imposed on his ability to defend himself in the public arena.
The trial also touched on broader tactics used by the Enquirer under Pecker’s leadership, including purchasing negative stories about Trump’s Republican rivals, Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, which were influenced directly by suggestions from Cohen.
Pecker’s involvement described a mutually beneficial arrangement with Trump, where he promised to be the campaign’s “eyes and ears,” ensuring positive coverage for Trump and negative publicity for his adversaries. This strategy was not just aimed at boosting Trump’s image but also at enhancing magazine sales.
The court session ended without a decision on the violation of the gag order by Trump, with testimonies set to continue. This trial not only scrutinizes Trump’s past dealings but also holds significant implications for his public image and political future.
