Court has reconvened, here’s what you have missed if you’re just tuning in.
The court focused on witness David Pecker, the former publisher of tabloids like The National Enquirer. He alleges that he handled two hush-money payments for Donald Trump in a “catch-and-kill” scheme.
Importantly, he revealed for the first time how he learned that Stormy Daniels was trying to sell her account of an alleged tryst with Trump for $120,000.
Pecker said he told Michael Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer, to handle it himself.
The former tabloid publisher said he had grown concerned about possible campaign finance and election-based legal issues from his previous efforts to quash stories that could harm Trump.
One specific case mentioned was a catch-and-kill payment of $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for her story of an alleged affair with Trump.
Hush-money payments are not illegal, but the prosecution is trying to demonstrate a pattern of behaviour to help prove their case.
They allege Trump fraudulently recorded the transaction in his company’s books as legal expenses – when in fact they claim he was paying Cohen back for the hush-money payments.
The prosecution has told the jury this was “election fraud, pure and simple”.
Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
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