Trump’s history-making hush-money trial begins ...

9 min ago
The Karen McDougal story emerged four days before the 2016 election

Although the National Enquirer had paid Karen McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story about a relationship with Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported on Nov. 4, 2016, that the Enquirer had paid to kill the story, four days before the presidential election. The Enquirer responded with its own article that said it didn’t pay for stories it wouldn’t publish.

“Was that the truth?” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked former Enquirer publisher David Pecker.

“No,” Pecker replied.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...ey-trial-live-updates-david-pecker-testimony/

 

Here are some of the highlights so far:, but ultimately never was.

• He testified that he had concerns about the legality of paying to kill a story concerning a political candidate. He also said that he knew at the time the deal with McDougal was illegal and he wouldn’t have entered into it if it wasn’t for Trump’s benefit.
• Pecker said he intended to kill
• • Pecker said after conversations with Michael Cohen and Trump he negotiated to buy McDougal’s story for $150,000 five months before the election. Pecker said he believed he would be reimbursed by the Trump Organization or Trump himself
  McDougal's story so it did not hurt Trump’s campaign. He also said he was aware that corporations making campaign expenditures in coordination with a campaign without disclosing them was unlawful.
• Daniels was "trying to sell a story that she had a sexual relationship with Donald Trump,” Pecker testified. When he told Cohen that American Media Inc. was not going to buy the story, Cohen told Pecker that Trump would be furious with him, he said. Pecker testified he later learned Cohen had paid Daniels out of his own funds.
• 
  
• At the end of a 2017 meeting, Pecker said Trump thanked him for “handling the McDougal situation.” Pecker said he assumed Trump was worried that stories would impact his campaign because in conversations with Cohen and the former president, Trump’s family was never mentioned.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

2 min ago
Judge says he will consider 4 new Trump gag order violations


Judge Juan Merchan said he signed the order to show cause regarding four new violations of a gag order for former President Donald Trump.

He signed the order to show cause from the district attorney for the first 10 violations, too.

This means he will hear the additional four violations they have now added. He hasn't made a decision yet or held Trump in contempt.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.



10 min ago

 

1 min ago
David Pecker is back on the stand


David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, is back on the stand.

Attorney Todd Blanche leaned over and whispered to Trump as Pecker walked up to the stand. Trump pursed his lips and nodded.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

1. 1 hour ago
2. National Enquirer ex-owner saw McDougal, Daniels payoffs as campaign-related
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. Former National Enquirer publisher and owner David Pecker told the jury in Donald Trump’s hush money case that coverup efforts he assisted in were designed to protect the then-candidate’s 2016 campaign, not his family.
6. 
   
7. 
   
8. In his second day of testimony, Pecker said that he did not think Trump and lawyer Michael Cohen, his conduit at the time, were aiming to keep the stories of two women — Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels — out of the news to protect wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka or any other relatives.
9. 
   
10. “It was basically what the impact would be to the campaign and the election,” Pecker said.
11. 
    
12. Pecker said he had a conversation with the president-elect at Trump Tower in January 2017, shortly before Trump’s inauguration. At that session, Pecker said Trump thanked him for paying McDougal for her silence and for assisting in other coverups for Trump.
13. 
    
14. Neither Trump nor Cohen brought up Trump’s marriage in conversations that happened over months about how to handle McDougal and later Daniels, the witness said.
15. 
    
16. “His family was never mentioned and the conversation I had directly with Mr. Trump, his family wasn’t mentioned, so I made the assumption the [main] concern was the campaign,” Pecker testified.
17. 
    
18. 
    
19. 
    cont:
    https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.
    
    
    

 

4 min ago
Pecker says Trump invited him to the White House for "thank you dinner" in 2017


Pecker is testifying that he got a call from the White House in July 2017.

He says Trump invited him to the White House. It was meant to be a "thank you dinner"

Pecker says his wife didn't want to go to Washington. He called Trump back and told him that, but Pecker says he went anyway and brought business associates with him.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

We should wait until after cross examination, but so far Pecker's testimony seems rather devastating to the defense that Trump's actions were personally embarrassing and not related to the election. Seems like that was all it was about.

 

4 min ago


During the lunch break, Donald Trump posted a flurry of links on Truth Social, including links to Fox News segments about his campaign stop at a local construction site this morning.

Prosecutors said earlier today that Trump violated the judge’s gag order in his remarks at the construction site, when he called David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher testifying today, a “nice guy.”

 

There's evidence that Bragg has showing Trump telling Cohen to try and hold off paying Stormy until after the election because then it wouldn't matter.
So Pecker is corroborating that Trump's concern was silencing Stormy before the election and not concerned about Melaina/family.
I t sure will be interesting seeing how Blanche or one of Trumps other lawyers cross examine Pecker cause he sure seems believable.

 

I am trying to remain open minded about this, and let the facts steer the thought pattern. Of course the prosecution is going to steer towards their impression, that's what they do, and it remains to be seen how the defenses strategy will work, but it seems like it will be difficult to quench the impression Pecker's testimony is giving.
Like you stated, it will be interesting to see how they approach Pecker's testimony.
I am gaining a new understanding on why Trump's lawyers tried so hard to have the case thrown out. I always thought that if the defenses case was so strong, it would be an opportunity for Trump to have a big win, and he could parlay the trial into a campaign strategy, since many of his supporters are of the "stick it to the man" category.

 

3 min ago
"We committed a campaign violation": Pecker says he was worried after receiving letters from the FEC


Pecker recalled a conversation that he and Cohen had about letters from the Federal Election Commission in 2018.

Pecker said, "We committed a campaign violation."

He testified that he was worried, but Cohen said he was not, telling Pecker: "Jeff Sessions is the attorney general and Donald Trump has him in his pocket."

6 min ago
Pecker says Trump called him after Daniels' interview, saying she owned him $24 million for breaching deal
Pecker testifies that Trump called him about the Daniels' interview with Anderson Cooper.

He told Pecker that based on the agreement she signed with Michael Cohen that she should owe him $24 million for breaching the agreement by talking about Trump in the interview, Pecker said.





9 min ago
Pecker says he wanted to extend McDougal's contract so she wouldn't say anything bad about Trump or AMI
Pecker says he wanted to extend McDougal's contract so she wouldn't say anything negative about AMI, which is the National Enquirer's parent company, or Trump.

When asked, Pecker confirms McDougal filed a lawsuit against AMI. She wanted to get back her lifetime rights, Pecker says.

Pecker says Trump was skeptical of the idea. "He said it’s your business, you should do whatever you plan on doing," Pecker says of Trump.

They settled the lawsuit and AMI returned her lifetime rights to her, Pecker says.

11 min ago
Pecker recalls a call with Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Joshua Steinglass asked David Pecker to recall a phone conversation he had with Trump's White House staff members.

Pecker testified he remembers a call with Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

"Both of them said that they thought it was a good idea," Pecker said, referring to extending McDougal's contract.'

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

This sweet morsel deserves its own post.

3 min ago
"We committed a campaign violation": Pecker says he was worried after receiving letters from the FEC


Pecker recalled a conversation that he and Cohen had about letters from the Federal Election Commission in 2018.

Pecker said, "We committed a campaign violation."

He testified that he was worried, but Cohen said he was not, telling Pecker: "Jeff Sessions is the attorney general and Donald Trump has him in his pocket."



cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

Ouch, that will leave a mark!

 

Then along came Billy Barr who wanted Cohen's sentence to go bye bye..like forever.
He probably also would want an NDA from Cohen.

POLITICS
Trump says "flipping" like Michael Cohen should be "illegal," tears into Jeff Sessions

August 23, 2018 / 8:17 AM EDT / CBS News


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-...n-should-be-illegal-tears-into-jeff-sessions/

 

So you can't back up your assertion........gotcha

So Bragg has given his opening.....ready to tell me what is this other crime?

 

Pecker got the agreement long after Cohen gave everyone the goods.
Pecker like Cohen also has the evidence to back up his claims which corroborates with Cohen',s.

8 min ago
Pecker confirms he signed cooperation agreement with Manhattan DA's office


Pecker confirms he signed a cooperation agreement with the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

The October 25, 2019, agreement is now displayed in court.

One of the lawyers on the jury made a visible facial expression at the agreement as he looked at the screen in front of him.


9 min ago
Trump appears to be reading agreement
Trump is sitting back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. He appears to be reading the agreement as its discussed in court on the screen in front of him.

At one point, he leaned over to whisper to his attorney Emil Bove.


11 min ago
Jury seems to be attentive to the testimony with many taking notes
The jury seems to be attentive during the testimony and many are taking notes.

Now they’re following along as Pecker reads the statement of admitted facts on their screens in front of them.

The statement of facts includes many of the same details that Pecker has just told the jury over the past two days.

Pecker is reading parts of the agreement that reference the August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower and AMI’s purchase of McDougal’s story in 2016.

Where the players’ names are not explicitly identified like McDougal and Trump, Steinglass has stopped Pecker to ask him to confirm who the document refers to.

Pecker is reading the statement of facts line by line, again stopping to fill in the names that aren’t in the document. It’s effectively acting as a summary of what Pecker has testified to and offers corroboration to what he’s said on the stand.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

FEDERAL election law for which no charges arose? Why?

 

And if I searched back will I find you making the same claim about the Mueller investigation?

 

Donald Trump forced to pay $83M as he loses bid for new trial in E Jean Carroll case (msn.com)
There is a possibility that Trump could lose in the "Hush money" trial and be forced to pay a great amount and/or serve time in prison. All in all, Trump will get what he deserves.

 

6 min ago
Trump is watching David Pecker


Trump seems to be watching Pecker as he sings Trump's praises.

"I still consider him close — even though we haven't spoken. I still consider him a friend," Pecker testifies.



7 min ago
Pecker says he doesn't have any ill will toward Trump
Steinglass is asking if Pecker has an ill will toward Trump.

"On the contrary," Pecker says. "I talked about, I think it was on Monday: I felt that Donald Trump was my mentor. He helped me throughout my career."

9 min ago
Pecker last spoke to Trump in 2019, he says
"When is the last time you saw or spoke to the defendant?" Steinglass asks Pecker.

Pecker says the last time they spoke was in January or February of 2019.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

Was Cohen on the call?
Both Sara Three Name and Hicks denied,denied denied and now we hear they knew all about McDougal.
Color me surprised,
Not!


'Pecker testified he remembers a call with Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

"Both of them said that they thought it was a good idea," Pecker said, referring to extending McDougal's contract.'

 

Knock yourself out.

 

Here we goooooooo.

3 min ago
What to expect during the defense team's cross-examination


Now that Trump's team has started its cross-examination of Pecker, a reminder: Defense attorneys are allowed to use leading questions on cross-examination.

That means we will likely hear Pecker confirm or deny things Bove is saying more frequently than give open-ended answers.



5 min ago
Bove asks Pecker about the business model for AMI
Trump's attorney asks Pecker if he managed AMI to make money.

"That's correct," Pecker says.
"AMI wasn't a charity?" Bove asks. "No, it was not," Pecker says.
"Part of AMI's business model was to purchase stories, correct?" Bove asked.
"Yes, it was," Pecker responded.
Bove confirms with Pecker that the business model included buying stories, reiterating Pecker's own words that AMI uses "checkbook journalism."

Bove also confirms source agreements are "standard operating procedure" for AMI, to give the company control of how, if at all, the information might be released.

10 min ago
Pecker acknowledges he still has equity in AMI
Trump attorney Emil Bove is starting his cross-examination by asking Pecker to confirm he was with AMI, the National Enquirer's parent company, from 1999 to 2020.

When asked, Pecker acknowledges he still has equity in AMI.

5 min ago
Trump attorney begins cross-examination of David Pecker
Trump attorney Emil Bove now takes the podium to begin cross-examination of David Pecker, the prosecution's first witness in the trial.

Trump briefly turns his head to look back at Bove when he begins.

Remember: Defense attorneys can cross examine the prosecution’s witnesses and typically aim to discredit their testimony. Witnesses’ responses are considered evidence, but not the questions posed by an attorney.

Read more about the stages of Trump's criminal trial.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

1 min ago
Pecker is asked about instances when AMI bought stories "as leverage against a celebrity"


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.

cont:
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-trial-04-25-24/index.html.

 

I don't know whether to laugh or what. Considering he had a trail and a hearing going on today as well, this turned out to be an expensive day for traitor tRaitor tRump.