© Reuters
The first witness in the criminal case is publisher David Packer
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The first witness in the money-for-hush trial of Donald Trump — former National Enquirer publisher David Packer — testified in New York court that he withheld information from his tabloid that would have been damaging to the campaign. Trump for President in 2016
According to Pecker, 72, the publication paid two people not to publish stories about sexual misconduct. “It’s common practice when a public figure is on the campaign trail for women to report sexual harassment and contact outlets like the National Enquirer to sell their information,” Packer said.
Packer revealed that the Enquirer paid Playboy model Karen McDougall for her story about an affair with Trump in 2006 and 2007. Packer paid the bribe after Trump himself refused to do so.
Packer’s decision to cover up the scandal came after a meeting in 2015 with Trump, in which he promised him that the publication would only publish information in his favor and prevent the spread of information that could damage his image.
The Enquirer’s subsidiary, American Media, paid a $150,000 bribe in 2018 to cover up McDougall’s story. Trump denies having an affair with her.
In addition, the tabloid transferred another $30,000 to security guard Dino Sajuddin, who claimed Trump had a child with his housekeeper, although the story turned out to be false.
The two bribes far exceed the sums that newspapers usually pay in such cases.
“I decided to pay because such a story would have created confusion and tension during the Trump campaign.”
former National Enquirer publisher David Packer
According to prosecutors, Packer’s bribes helped Trump deceive voters in 2016 at a time when he was already facing numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
The “hush money” trial against Trump could tip the scales in his favor
Trump was previously accused of falsifying business documents to cover up a $130,000 bribe in exchange for the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels. According to her, the two had sexual contact 10 years ago.
© Reuters
Donald Trump enters New York court for first criminal trial
