Former US tabloid publisher covered up compromising articles to protect Trump

As Donald Trump ran for president in 2016, his old friend David Packer, publisher of the National Enquirer, collected stories that could have hurt his candidacy and paid tens of thousands of dollars to hide them from the public, reported the Associated Press, quoted by BTA.

But when it came to porn actress Stormy Daniels’ incriminating claims, the tabloid’s longtime publisher said he tapped his foot. “I’m not going to pay for this story,” he said in a conversation with Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.

Packer said this in his testimony in the case about the money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels. On it, he explained to jurors his version of the scheme to cover up news damaging to Trump’s candidacy. According to prosecutors, it amounts to interference in the 2016 US election race.

By the time Daniels came forward, Packer had already lost $180,000 on other Trump-related stories.

Packer’s testimony was a key element in the prosecution’s allegations that their partnership was a way to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election, the Associated Press noted. Trump’s lawyers also cross-examined Packer, trying to show that his claims had changed over time.

At the same time, the US Supreme Court is hearing arguments on whether Trump should be immune from prosecution in connection with his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Supreme Court justices appear inclined to reject his claims that he enjoys full immunity, but at the same time it seems very possible that the trial will be delayed until after the November election, the US intelligence agency said.