Update - 4:50 pm Eastern:
Before leaving the bench, Judge Merchan indicated there would be a hearing next Wednesday afternoon regarding the prosecution's motion(s) to hold Trump in contempt over purported violations of the gag order.
Update - 4:30 pm Eastern:
Other celebrities with whom Pecker acknowledges having similar arrangements include Ron Perlman of Revlon, Tiger Woods, Mark Wahlberg, and even Rahm Emmanuel.
Bove is exploring the number of times Pecker met with prosecutors and some seeming inconsistencies in his recollection regarding the timeline of the 2015 meeting in Trump Tower. Pecker also testified that Michael Cohen asked for help in matters that had nothing to do with Trump as well.
Trump's lawyer Bove: And Michael Cohen, he asked you for help that had nothing to do with President Trump, right?
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Pecker: Yes.
Bove: To help with his daughter's rock climbing company, right.
A: Yes.
Bove: Cohen told you he was not working for the campaign?
A: Yes
The prosecution raised several objections over questions regarding Pecker's testimony about Hope Hicks being present for the 2015 meeting.
Following a sidebar, Judge Merchan told the jurors they were finished for the day and dismissed them.
The parties continue to debate the propriety of questions regarding Hope Hicks' presence at the meeting and what Pecker initially told prosecutors.
Trump's lawyer Bove: He asked me for the document.
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Justice Merchan: He didn't ask for A102.
Bove: I don't know what's behind the redactions.
Justice Merchan: Sit down. I'm going to instruct the jury about it tomorrow. You should be careful about this
Update - 4:00 pm Eastern:
Bove confirmed with Pecker that AMI's business model included purchasing stories — "checkbook journalism." Pecker acknowledges that this practice was not unique to Trump.
Bove is asking Pecker to describe other instances where AMI would purchase a story, including sometimes "as leverage against a celebrity."
The former publisher confirms he used a third-party consultant to facilitate large AMI payments for stories. He used this consultant to handle these sensitive payments because he was concerned about leaks, Pecker says.
Bove is confirming that using the consultant to facilitate a possible reimbursement from Michael Cohen to AMI for the Karen McDougal story rights was not unique to that situation involving Trump.
He also confirms with Pecker that around the time of the "Celebrity Apprentice" show, research showed that Trump was a top celebrity who could drive the most sales for the National Enquirer at the time.
"So You ran articles about President Trump because it was good for business?"
"That's correct," Pecker said.
Pecker also confirmed that the practice of not running negative stories about Trump dates back to the 90s, as doing so was not considered good for business. In fact, Pecker had a practice of giving Trump a heads-up on negative stories dating back 17 years before the election.
Pecker describes his arrangement with Trump as "mutually beneficial." He also acknowledges he had such relationships with other celebrities besides Trump, like, for instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Update - 3:30 pm Eastern:
The prosecution has concluded its questioning of David Pecker following his testimony that AMI reached an agreement with the Manhattan DA's office after he left the company and wound up paying a $180,000 fine, agreeing not to contest that the company committed a campaign violation in connection with the payment to McDougal.
Pecker indicated the last time he spoke with Trump was in 2019, but stated that he considers Trump a mentor and friend.
Pecker is now being cross-examined by Trump attorney Emil Bove. He acknowledges he still maintains an equity stake in AMI.
Update - 3:10 pm Eastern:
Pecker continues to testify. He's being asked about the non-prosecution agreement reached with the Southern District of New York after AMI was contacted by the FEC over the McDougal payment.
Prosecutor: Did you receive a letter from the Federal Elections Commission and call Michael Cohen?
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Pecker: I did. I told Michael I've worried. He said, Why? Jeff Sessions is the Attorney General and Donald Trump has him in his back pocket.
[Pecker reads from the non-prosecution agreement]
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Prosecutor: Who was "the model"?
Pecker: Karen McDougal.
[More from non-prosecution agreement]
Pecker (reading) "AMI has also agreed to implement several improvements to ensure compliance"
Update - 2:40 pm Eastern:
Judge Juan Merchan has agreed to hear the additional four purported gag order violations raised by prosecutors Thursday morning.
There has been a discussion between the lawyers and the judge regarding the admissibility of a text message thread between National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard and publicist Gina Rodriguez. Judge Merchan wants more time to fully review the thread.
The jury returned to the courtroom, and David Pecker is back on the stand, now testifying to a White House "thank you" dinner in 2017.
Update - 2:00 pm Eastern:
While court is in recess for lunch, CNN has compiled a "roundup" of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker's testimony — over the span of five hours — thus far.
Catch up on some of the key points of David Pecker's testimony so far today https://t.co/0uurK5tPCE
— Susie Moore ⚾️🌻🐶 (@SmoosieQ) April 25, 2024
CNN's Brynn Gringas described Trump's reactions to Pecker's testimony thusly:
While the former president sometimes conferred with his attorney, he was mostly sitting back in his chair with his eyes shut, Gingras added. It seemed as if Trump was taking in word by word how Pecker was testifying.
Trump smirked just once, according to Gingras, when Pecker recounted Trump — who was then the president-elect — telling a room full of people that Pecker knows more stories about him than anyone else in the room.
Update - 1:30 pm Eastern:
Per Pecker, Trump was initially primarily concerned about the impact of negative stories on his wife, Melania, or his daughter, Ivanka. That later shifted to the impact they would have on the campaign.
The court has now taken a break for lunch.
Update - 1:00 pm Eastern:
Pecker testified to an exchange between himself and Cohen in which Pecker insisted he would not buy a story from a porn star, and Cohen reportedly replied that Trump would be furious.
He testified he learned that Cohen paid Daniels himself later. He also testified to a late 2017 meeting at Trump Tower where he and Trump discussed McDougal.
Pecker: In the waiting room, Keith Schiller said, How's our girl? Meaning Karen McDougal. Then I was summoned in. Mike Pompeo and others there, telling him about the Fort Lauderdale shooting that day. Mr. Trump introduced me as the head of the National Enquirer
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Update - 12:30 pm Eastern:
Pecker testifies that following a request by Cohen, he took down an old (2008) story that referred to Trump as a "playboy man." He had some discussions with Cohen about the "Access Hollywood" tape and its potential impact on the campaign.
He is now testifying regarding Stormy Daniels and discussions about securing her story.
On October 9, Howard texted Pecker: "Woman wants 120k. Has offers from Mail and GMA want her to talk and do lie detector live. I know the denials were made in the past - but this story is true. I can lock it on publication now to shut down the media chatter and we can assess next steps thereafter. OK?"
Pecker responded: "We can't pay 120k."
Howard then texted back: "Ok. They'd need to handle. Perhaps I call Michael and advise him and he can take it from there, and handle."
Later, Howard texted again: "Spoke to MC. All sorted. Now removed. No fingerprints. I'll recap with you face-to-face."
According to Pecker, his rationale for not purchasing the Daniels story was "I don’t want the National Enquirer to be associated with a porn star."
Update - 12:00 pm Eastern:
The attorneys continue to argue over the admissibility of certain items of evidence, including texts by National Enquirer Editor Dylan Howard. Judge Merchan is excluding them for now but may revisit that ruling.
The jury has returned to the courtroom, and Pecker has retaken the stand. Prosecutors are indicating they do not believe Pecker's testimony will be completed today.
Update - 11:30 am Eastern:
Per Pecker, Cohen insisted that AMI forward all content they had on him to Trump. Pecker describes using an intermediary for payment "because I believed that payment would raise a lot of questions and issues." Pecker assumed Cohen was going to be reimbursed by Trump.
The court has taken a short break. Judge Merchan and the attorneys are now reviewing the objections regarding certain exhibits.
Update - 11:00 am Eastern:
Pecker has described the agreement with McDougal in detail. He testified he believes Trump was aware of the contract.
More details about the payment to McDougal:
Pecker explains filing the payment to McDougal under the president's budget was a it to be clerical decision because the editors' budget was limited for smaller transactions.
AMI, the National Enquirer's parent company, paid for McDougal's life rights via wire transfer, Pecker says. The paperwork for that transaction is now being shown in court.
Pecker asserts the purpose of not publishing McDougal's story was to prevent it from influencing the 2016 election.
Prosecutor: Why?
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Pecker: We didn't want it to embarrass Mr. Trump or the campaign.
Prosecutor: Who is we?
Pecker: Michael Cohen.
Prosecutor: Did you walk about Mr. Trump actually acquiring the right?
Pecker: Yes. Cohen said I should assign the contract to him
Update - 10:30 am Eastern:
Pecker has been describing the arrangement for purchasing McDougal's story. He testified it was his understanding that he would be reimbursed by the Trump Organization or Trump himself for the $150,000 paid to McDougal.
Pecker: I told Michael Cohen, Why should I pay? I just paid $30,000 for the doorman story. But who is going to reimburse me $150,000? He said, The Boss will take care of it.
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 25, 2024
Prosecutor: People's 173A, start with page 1. Texts with Dylan Howard.
Per Pecker, the contract with McDougal was signed in early August 2016.
Update - 10:00 am Eastern:
Before the jury is brought in, the attorneys and the judge are doing some housekeeping over objections raised Tuesday to certain evidence. The attorneys have conferred with one another and resolved some of the issues but still need a ruling from Judge Merchan on some matters. The court opts to proceed with witness testimony and sort the evidentiary issue out on a break.
The prosecution makes a record of additional purported gag order violations by Trump, asserting there have been four in the last three days, including comments made by Trump outside the courthouse and in an interview. Merchan continues to reserve his decision on the gag order motion(s).
David Pecker has retaken the stand, and prosecutor Joshua Steinglass has resumed questioning him. They are going over the payment made to Karen McDougal to buy her story. According to Pecker, Trump described McDougal as "a nice girl."
Alright. After abbreviated Tuesday proceedings (for Passover) and the regular Wednesday break, court is back in session for former President Donald Trump in Manhattan, where he's facing criminal charges over falsified business records regarding payments made to Stormy Daniels for a non-disclosure agreement. (Peak 2024!)
When last we left you, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker had been testifying regarding the "catch and kill" arrangement between the outlet, Trump, and his former attorney, Michael Cohen, ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors have now revealed the underlying crime which they allege Trump was attempting to cover up with falsified records: checks notes..."conspiracy to promote or prevent election."
READ MORE:
LIVE UPDATES: Trump Manhattan Trial - Day 6
DA Finally Reveals Underlying Crime Trump Allegedly Committed, and the Bidens Should be Nervous
As Day 7 gets underway, the prosecution will continue to present its case. Pecker will be back on the stand, possibly for further questioning from the prosecution, followed by cross-examination by the defense.
Meanwhile, in D.C., the Supreme Court will be hearing oral argument on Trump v. United States, the case involving the availability and scope of presidential immunity as a defense to criminal prosecution of a/the former president. You can listen to that live here.
Stay tuned here as we bring you live updates of the day's developments in the case.
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