Pecker testifies Access Hollywood tape was ‘very damaging’ for Trump campaignLauren ArataniNow David Pecker is being asked about the Access Hollywood tapes, which were released in October 2016, just a month before the election.The judge had ruled against the tape itself being a part of evidence in the trial, so prosecutors had Pecker describe the tape. A pretty bizarre moment.Pecker said that the tape was:
Donald Trump and Billy Bush, an anchor for Access Hollywood, going on a bus, and [Trump] said the comment… ‘You can grab a woman by their genitals’.
Donald Trump appeared to be fidgeting in his seat as Pecker was talking about the tape.When asked what happened when the tape was released, Pecker said:
It was very embarrassing and very damaging for the campaign.
Seems like prosecutors are setting up Pecker up to talk about Stormy Daniels, who was paid $130,000 just a three weeks after the tapes were released.In court documents, prosecutors have argued that the release of the tapes amped up pressure on the campaign to kill any other negative stories that could come out about Trump.ShareKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureSam LevineDavid Pecker is back on the stand.Pecker is describing a phone call with Michael Cohen after the release of the Access Hollywood tape.Everyone in the campaign was very concerned about what impact it would have, Pecker recalls Cohen telling him.ShareSam LevineProsecutor Joshua Steinglass is reading text messages from Dylan Howard to a relative into the record. One of them says: “At least if he wins I’ll be pardoned for electoral fraud.”— Sam Levine (@srl) April 25, 2024

ShareMeanwhile in Washington DC, the supreme court is hearing oral arguments in Donald Trump v United States, the former president’s appeal in his federal election subversion case, in which he claims presidents are immune from prosecution for acts committed in office.In briefs to the court, lawyers for Trump said “a denial of criminal immunity would incapacitate every future president”.Jack Smith, the special counsel who indicted Trump on four counts related to his attempt to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden in 2020, argued: “Presidents are not above the law.”Constitutional law experts overwhelmingly side with Smith. Nonetheless, as Trump seeks to delay all four of his criminal cases, in the hope he might regain power and have them dismissed, the six rightwingers and three liberals on the supreme court will give his immunity claim a hearing. Trump appointed three of those rightwingers.Before the special counsel’s office began presenting its case, Neil Gorsuch, a conservative justice, pondered whether rejecting Trump’s claim of immunity would cause presidents to pre-emptively pardon themselves, in fear that a successor could decide to prosecute them.We have a separate live blog covering the supreme court hearing.ShareUpdated at 17.57 CESTMaya YangIn 2018, the New Yorker published a letter written by Karen McDougal about her alleged experiences with Donald Trump during their first date at the Beverly Hills Hotel.In the letter, McDougal wrote:
We talked for a couple hours – then, it was ‘ON’! We got naked + had sex. After we got dressed (to leave), he offered me money. I looked at him (+ felt sad) and said, ‘No thanks – I’m not ‘that girl.’ I slept w/you because I like you – NOT for money’ – He told me ‘you are special.’
That same year, McDougal publicly apologized to Melania Trump for the alleged affair, saying on CNN:
I’m sorry, I wouldn’t want it done to me … When I look back, where I was back then, I know it’s wrong … I’m really sorry for that. I know it’s a wrong thing to do.
ShareWho is Karen McDougal, the other woman in Trump’s hush-money case?Maya YangThe hush money payments Donald Trump has been accused of making involve not only adult film star Stormy Daniels, who has dominated headlines in recent months, but also Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model.In 2018, McDougal told CNN she had an extramarital affair with the former president that began in 2006, which Trump denies. He has been married to his third wife, Melania Trump, since 2005.According to McDougal, the affair involved having sex with Trump “many dozens of times” and occurred in multiple locations including at a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, California, and at his private golf club in New Jersey, as well as in Trump Tower in New York City, where she was allegedly brought in through the back entrance. Despite Trump’s denials that an extramarital affair with McDougal ever occurred, the New York prosecution team has cited evidence of payments made to McDougal by Trump.Karen McDougal claims she had an extramarital affair with Trump that began in 2006, which Trump denies. Photograph: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BacardiBorn in Indiana, McDougal is a 52-year old actor and former Playboy model. According to her website, she began her career in her 20s as a fitness model for various health and fitness publications. In 1997, McDougal became a Playboy “playmate” and made “playmate of the year” in 1998. In 1999, McDougal appeared on the cover of Men’s Fitness magazine.Since then, McDougal made various appearances as a sports radio personality and was cast in the 2001 direct-to-video film The Arena by Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov. In The Arena, McDougal plays an Amazon slave who is forced to become a gladiator in Rome.According to her website, McDougal is a national advocate for breast implant illness and is an active member in various support groups, following her implant removal in 2017. Her activism work also includes raising awareness on deep vein thrombosis and animal rights.ShareUpdated at 17.46 CESTSam LevineIn September of 2016, AMI had reached an agreement for Michael Cohen to reimburse them $125,000 for the rights to Karen McDougal’s story.The agreement was signed by David Pecker and Cohen on 30 September 2016. But then Pecker spoke with AMI’s lawyer and decided to call the agreement off.Prosecutors did not ask Pecker about the contents of that conversation, citing attorney client privilege.When Pecker told Cohen the agreement was off, Cohen was furious, Pecker testified:
He was very, very angry, very upset, screaming basically at me. And I said I’m not going forward with this agreement.
ShareUpdated at 17.20 CESTThe court is taking a break.Cameras are not allowed inside the courtroom during proceedings, but Donald Trump was photographed before court got under way this morning.Donald Trump sits in Manhattan criminal court in New York. Photograph: Mark Peterson/APDonald Trump sits in the court room with his lawyers at Manhattan criminal court in New York. Photograph: Mark Peterson/APShareUpdated at 17.17 CESTSam LevineIn September of 2016, Michael Cohen told David Pecker that Donald Trump wanted to acquire the lifetime rights to Karen McDougal’s story as well as all of the National Enquirer’s files on Trump.Cohen called Pecker constantly about this, Pecker testified.Even though Pecker said most of the content was old news files, Cohen said Trump still wanted it. Pecker said of Cohen:
He said the boss said that if I got hit by a bus or if the company was sold, he did not want someone else to potentially publish those stories.
SharePecker testifies he bought McDougal story so it did not ‘hurt Trump campaign’Lauren ArataniWhen asked why AMI paid Karen McDougal, David Pecker paused for a few second.
We purchased the story so it wouldn’t be published by any other organization.
When asked to clarify, Pecker said, reiterated:
We didn’t want this story to embarrass Mr Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign” – ‘we’ being ‘myself and Michael Cohen.’
SharePecker testifies he bought Karen McDougal story so it did not influence 2016 electionSam LevineAsked whether his principal intention in buying Karen McDougal’s story was to suppress it and prevent it from interfering in the election, David Pecker says:
Yes it was.
ShareUpdated at 16.52 CESTLauren ArataniNow we’re looking at documented evidence of American Media’s payment to Karen McDougal.Prosecutors showed the invoice McDougal’s attorney sent to American Media and a record of the wire transfer for the $150,000 payment for her story.Share



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