In Day 6 of Donald Trump’s hush money trial, former National Enquirer CEO David Pecker, provided testimony about the “catch-and-kill” arrangement he made with Trump and Michael Cohen during the 2016 presidential election. The arrangement involved buying exclusive rights to certain stories to keep them from being published.
Pecker testified that the catch-and-kill practice started just before the 2016 election. He described the very first story he “caught and killed,” which was a false allegation that Trump fathered an illegitimate child with a maid at Trump Tower. When Pecker’s team heard about these allegations, they immediately contacted Michael Cohen, who denied their truthfulness. However, Pecker proceeded to buy the exclusive rights to the story for $30,000 in order to “lock it up.” This testimony is significant as it establishes the timeline of the catch-and-kill practice and its connection to Trump’s electoral ambitions.
There was a hearing before the trial proceedings to address whether Trump violated the judge’s limited gag order by targeting prospective witnesses, including Cohen and Stormy Daniels. The judge expressed skepticism towards Trump’s defense, stating that they had not provided any evidence of the specific posts he was responding to. Trump criticized the judge, accusing him of impeding his free speech rights. The judge has yet to rule on the contempt motion, but if found guilty, Trump could face a fine or even short-term confinement.
The National Enquirer CEO mentioned that Playboy model Karen McDougal attempted to sell a story about her relationship with Donald Trump for a year. Pecker immediately informed Cohen about this, who was described as being highly agitated. Pecker also recalls having a phone conversation with Trump about the situation.
The testimony from Pecker sheds light on the catch-and-kill arrangement, the timeline of its implementation, and its connection to Trump’s electoral ambitions. The judge’s hearing regarding Trump’s violation of the gag order raises questions about the former president’s conduct during the trial. Lastly, Pecker’s mention of Karen McDougal adds further intrigue to the case and the relationships involved. As the trial continues, more information will undoubtedly emerge, and it will be interesting to see how these revelations impact the outcome.
We will keep you updated on this crucial trial, on Fan Reviews News.
