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☆ Trump trial live updates: Jury to re-hear David Pecker testimony on second day of deliberations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Editor's note: This is developing news and will be updated throughout the day. The 12-member jury also has asked to re-hear the instructions on the law it received Wednesday from Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan before they began their first day of deliberations. The judge sent them home for the day after saying they would hear those requests on Thursday. Prosecutors, and Cohen, say that hid the fact that it was actually to prevent Daniels from harming Trump's then-wobbling campaign. "Mother Teresa could not beat these charges," Trump told reporters after jurors began deliberating Tuesday.

Persons: David Pecker, Emil Bove, Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Juan Merchan, Trump, reimbursements, Cohen, Daniels, Teresa, Joe Biden Organizations: Republican, Manhattan, Prosecutors Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New York, Pecker's

☆ Donald Trump's jury ends its first day of deliberations deep in the hush-money conspiracy weeds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Laura Italiano | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump's Manhattan jury deliberated for four-and-a-half hours on Wednesday — and their first note to the judge shows they were deep in the hush-money conspiracy weeds before breaking for the day. Pecker's testimony continued. Reuters/Mike Segar'The boss is going to be very angry'The second chunk of the transcript to be read back Thursday morning concerns still more of Pecker's testimony. It was at this meeting that the illegal campaign conspiracy underlying Trump's indictment was hatched, according to the witnesses. Under the alleged conspiracy, Pecker, Trump's longtime friend, would alert Cohen when negative stories arose.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's Manhattan, they'll, Trump's, David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Trump, We've, Juan Merchan, Karen McDougal Dimitrios Kambouris, Karen, Donald Trump, Pecker, Karen McDougal, Playboy Bunny, Michael, Mike Segar, It's, McDougals's, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Jane Rosenberg, Ted Cruz Organizations: Service, Business, National Enquirer, Trump, Reuters, Trump Organization, Trump Tower Locations: New Jersey, Mexican, New York, Manhattan, Trump's

Attorneys were at a sidebar as prosecutor Susan Hoffinger began asking Michael Cohen about a Wall Street Journal story from 2018 on American Media Inc., the payments and Cohen's conversation with ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. "David was very concerned because it was going to affect AMI, it was going to affect him," Cohen said. Cohen says he told Pecker: "I told him that matter was going to be taken care of, and the person of course who was going to be able to do it was Jeff Sessions," who was attorney general at the time. Cohen testifies that he told Pecker that because "that was post my conversation with the president." Hoffinger confirmed with Cohen that he had already had a conversation with Trump about it at that point.

Persons: Susan Hoffinger, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, David, Cohen, Merchan, Pecker, Jeff Sessions, Hoffinger, Trump Organizations: American Media Inc, National Enquirer, AMI

☆ Trump trial witness David Pecker targeted by 'swatting' at his home, Reuters reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified at Donald Trump's criminal trial last month, was targeted in a fake emergency the same day he took the stand in New York, according to police records seen by Reuters. The previously unreported April 25 "swatting" incident, or filing of a false report to trigger a potentially dangerous response, is one in a wave of violent threats against U.S. officials and other public figures in recent years. Jamal gave the address of the crime as Pecker's home in Greenwich, Connecticut. It appeared to be the first report of a swatting attempt against someone testifying in the Republican presidential candidate's 12-day-old hush money trial. The hoax email "Jamal" sent about Pecker's home came from the address nobody@dizum.com, the Greenwich police report said, describing the email address as untraceable.

Persons: David Pecker, Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Jamal, Pecker, Elkan Abramowitz Organizations: National Enquirer, Former National Enquirer, Reuters, U.S, Greenwich Police Department, Republican, Trump, Greenwich police Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, New York, Greenwich , Connecticut, Greenwich

☆ Trump trial resumes after infamous Cohen phone call tape is played for jury
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the first day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on April 15, 2024 in New York City. The lawyer, Keith Davidson, negotiated six-figure hush money deals for porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal ahead of the 2016 presidential election. On the night Trump won that election, Davidson texted the Enquirer's then-editor in chief, "What have we done?" But he added that he and the top editor, Dylan Howard, understood at the time that "our activities may have in some way assisted the presidential campaign of Donald Trump." Jurors heard a recording of Trump saying asking Cohen, "So what do we got to pay for this — 150?"

Persons: Donald Trump, Keith Davidson, Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Trump, Daniels, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Davidson, Trump's, Michael Cohen, David Pecker, Dylan Howard, Douglas Daus, Cohen, McDougal Organizations: U.S, Manhattan Criminal, Prosecutors, New, Trump, Manhattan, Attorney, National Enquirer, American Media Locations: New York City, New York

☆ Trump trial: Defense continues cross-examination of National Enquirer publisher David Pecker: Live updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York on April 26, 2024. Defense attorneys for former President Donald Trump continued the cross-examination Friday of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who has given three days of damning testimony for the prosecution in Trump's New York criminal hush money trial. Pecker's cross-examination began Thursday afternoon, when attorneys for Trump started a line of questions designed to poke holes in Pecker's credibility. The effort drew objections from prosecutors late Thursday afternoon, which New York Judge Juan Merchan said would be dealt with on Friday. Entering the courtroom Friday morning, Trump said he thought things went "very well" in the trial on Thursday.

Persons: Donald Trump, David Pecker, Pecker's, Trump, Juan Merchan Organizations: U.S, National Enquirer, New York Locations: Manhattan, New York, Trump's New York

“As we walked out, President Trump asked me, ‘How’s Karen doing, how’s Karen doing?’ So, I said, ‘She’s doing well, she’s quiet, everything’s going good.’” Pecker said. I thought you had this under control.”Pecker also received a call from Trump after McDougal was interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper in March 2018. Pecker told Trump on the call that he had amended McDougal’s agreement on speaking to other media. “But the US Supreme Court had a monumental hearing on immunity and the immunity having to do with presidential immunity. “So, you ran articles about President Trump because it was good for business?” Bove asked.

Persons: David Pecker, Donald Trump’s, Karen McDougal’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen, Pecker, Cohen, Daniels, McDougal, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Trump’s, ‘ How’s Karen, how’s Karen, ‘ She’s, ” Pecker, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, “, Chris Conroy, ” Conroy, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Jackson, CNN Trump, ” Trump, Emil Bove, Quizzing, Bove, Dino Sajudin, ” Bove, Stelter, Bove’s, –, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, Ari Emanuel, Mark Wahlberg, Rahm Emanuel, Tiger Woods, Woods, ”, Wahlberg Organizations: CNN, Former American Media Inc, Trump, AMI, White House, Wall, Office, National Enquirer, National, Pecker, California, Chicago, ” CNN Locations: Manhattan, Washington, New York, New York City, Bedminster, CNN’s, Japan

☆ Trump feared for campaign, not family, as sex scandals were caught and killed, ex-Enquirer CEO tells hush-money jury
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When a porn star and Playboy Bunny both came forward, Trump feared for voters, not family, Pecker told jurors. Then, in swift succession and with the 2016 election just months away, a Playboy Bunny and a porn star appeared with more sex scandals. But in the months before the 2016 election, all Trump worried about was his voters, Pecker testified on his third day on the stand. "I thought his concern was with the campaign," Pecker added. Pecker told jurors he had been investigated by California officials for just this sort of thing more than a decade before Trump's 2016 campaign.

Persons: David Pecker, Playboy Bunny, Trump, Pecker, —, Donald Trump, Dino Sajudin, Bunny Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, Joshua Steinglass, Steinglass, Daniels, Michael Cohen, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Dylan Howard, Trump's, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold, Howard, Howard texted, Cohen, Karen, McDougal, Michael, Jeff Sessions Organizations: National Enquirer, Service, Trump, Enquirer, Trump Organization, Attorney, American Media International, AMI, Prosecutors, McDougal's, Federal, Commission Locations: Manhattan, California, Australia

Here are takeaways from Tuesday’s day in court:Gag order hearing goes badly for TrumpMerchan issued the gag order before the trial began, limiting Trump from publicly discussing witnesses, the jury or the district attorney’s staff. Merchan expanded the order, which Trump has appealed, to cover his own family after Trump attacked his daughter. “It’s your client’s position that when he reposts he did not believe he was violating the gag order. Judge says Trump lawyers are ‘losing all credibility’Tensions continued to grow between Trump’s legal team and the trial judge during the gag order hearing. Pecker places Michael Cohen deep in the conspiracyPecker placed Cohen in the heart of the alleged “catch and kill conspiracy” Tuesday.

Persons: Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, David Pecker, Karen McDougal, Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Trump, ”, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Cohen, Michael Avenatti, Daniels, ” Merchan, “, ” Blanche, reposts, “ You’ve, “ I’ve, You’ve, “ You’re, Josh Steinglass, Pecker, McDougal, Michael, ” Pecker, Stelter, wasn’t, “ Michael Cohen, Ted Cruz, ’ ” Pecker, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Media Inc, Trump, Trump Merchan, Truth, AMI, CNN Locations: New York

☆ Trump thought hush money was risky because 'It always gets out,' National Enquirer exec testifies. In this case, Trump was right.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"It always gets out," Pecker testified Trump told him. "It always gets out," Trump explained of his hesitancy, according to the trial's first witness, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Advertisement"I think the story should be purchased and you should buy it," Pecker told jurors, describing what he told Trump about McDougal's accusations during a June, 2016 phone call. But Trump wanted nothing to do with the McDougal payoff, Pecker said Tuesday, his second day on the witness stand. But Trump is now on trial for a second hush-money payment that prosecutors say has Trump's fingerprints all over it — the payment to Daniels.

Persons: Donald Trump's Manhattan, David Pecker, Pecker, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Model Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, Alvin Bragg's, Daniels, Bragg, McDougal, Michael Cohen —, Cohen, Melania Trump, Barron, Pecker's Organizations: Service, National Enquirer, Trump Organization, Trump Org

☆ Hush-money judge repeatedly bench-slaps Donald Trump's lawyer over gag violations: 'You're losing all credibility!'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"You're losing all credibility," the judge railed when Blanche insisted Trump was "careful" online. "You're losing all credibility," New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan angrily told the lawyer, Todd Blanche. It was at this point that the judge accused Blanche of "losing all credibility." Blanche's arguments at Tuesday's hearing, in defense of Trump's posts, fell roughly into three categories. Blanche's third argument was that reposting attacks on trial witnesses that were originally made by others was somehow exempt.

Persons: Todd Blanche, Blanche, Trump, —, Donald Trump, Juan Merchan, Merchan, Christopher Conroy, Timothy A, Clary, Trump's, Michael Cohen, Stormy Daniels, I've, Atilgan, Daniels, Cohen, Conroy, Jesse Watters, David Pecker, Pecker, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Alvin Bragg's, reimbursing Cohen, Karen McDougal, McDougal Organizations: Service, GOP, Prosecutors, Reuters, Trump, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Fox, Merchan, National Enquirer, Mar, Manhattan, Trump Organization Locations: Manhattan, Florida, Washington, DC

☆ Manhattan DA sheds new light on National Enquirer publisher's efforts to boost Trump 2016 campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg unveiled new details Tuesday about the role the National Enquirer's then-publisher played in boosting former President Donald Trump's winning 2016 campaign. The Trump, AMI and Pecker alliance continued through the 2016 election and the former president's inauguration, according to Bragg's investigation. Outside of the McDougal payment, the tabloid suppressed or published various stories related to Trump or his opponents during the election. The Manhattan DA revealed new examples of how the relationship worked among Pecker, AMI and Trump. AMI purchased the information from the Doorman without fully investigating his claims, but the AMI CEO directed that the deal take place because of his agreement with the Defendant [Trump] and Lawyer A [Cohen]."

☆ Trump ally and ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Monday before the NY hush-money grand jury
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Laura Italiano | El Calabrese | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

David Pecker testified Monday before the Trump hush-money grand jury in Manhattan. The ex-publisher was one of the first witnesses to testify before the grand jury, and he is expected to be among its last. The grand jury did not meet the rest of last week. Trump was reportedly in the room in 2015 when Cohen discussed hush-money payments with Pecker. The grand jury is expected to reconvene on the hush-money matter Wednesday afternoon.

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