April 23rd 2024.
As he exited Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was surrounded by a horde of reporters and cameras, eager to hear his thoughts on the ongoing hush money trial. The first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, had just finished testifying about his close relationship with Trump and their involvement in purchasing and "killing" negative stories about the former president.
Pecker, who is 72 years old, shared that he often alerted Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, about any stories involving the ex-president and women. He described Trump as "the most eligible bachelor" who "dated the most beautiful women," a reputation that Pecker believed would attract many women looking to sell their stories to the media.
The courtroom was filled with tense energy as Pecker continued to speak. He explained that he had a meeting with Cohen in 2015 to discuss ways to "help the campaign" of Trump. As close friends, they came to a mutually beneficial agreement to publish positive stories about Trump and negative ones about his opponents in the Enquirer, hoping to boost Trump's image and increase magazine sales.
Pecker revealed that he first met Cohen in 2007, when Trump introduced them and asked Pecker to inform him if any negative stories were to come out. Essentially, Pecker acted as the "eyes and ears" of the Trump campaign, providing valuable information and support.
The former president, who was known for his popular show The Apprentice, also gave exclusive scoops to the Enquirer, which was a "tremendous help" to the publication. Pecker recounted how they "followed him religiously," always eager to publish any news about Trump.
According to reports, Trump appeared stone-faced throughout most of the proceedings, occasionally closing his eyes to listen. However, when Pecker began detailing a "catch-and-kill" deal involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump, the ex-president's body language changed. He shifted in his seat, crossed his arms, and squinted, displaying signs of frustration.
After the trial, Trump expressed his annoyance to the media, complaining that it was taking away from his ability to campaign. "This is all Biden," he said. "He's out there campaigning, and I'm stuck here in the courtroom all day long."
The trial, which is the first criminal trial for any former or serving US president, will resume on Thursday after a break on Wednesdays.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
