David Pecker

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Trump Lawyers Try to Undermine David Pecker

'I've been truthful,' former tabloid publisher responds

(Newser) - Donald Trump's lawyers sought to undermine the credibility of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker in court on Friday, but he pushed back "defiantly," according to the New York Times . "I've been truthful to the best of my recollection," he said after a suggestion...

Pecker Airs 'Catch and Kill' Stories About Other Celebrities

Meanwhile, prosecutors accuse Trump of more violations of gag order

(Newser) - A lot of celebrity dirt was aired during day seven of Donald Trump's hush-money trial, only some of that being Trump's own. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified Thursday that Trump was nervous about the publication holding boxes of materials related to "catch and kill" stories...

Pecker: 'We Didn't Want the Story to Embarrass Mr. Trump'

Former 'National Enquirer' publisher describes payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal

(Newser) - Donald Trump's dizzying day in court continued in New York on Thursday as former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker picked up his testimony in the hush-money trial. Pecker elaborated on the "catch and kill" strategy of buying and burying negative Trump stories. For example, he spoke about paying...

Pecker Describes 'Confidential' Arrangement With Trump, Aides

Former 'National Enquirer' publisher says he promised to be Trump's 'eyes and ears'

(Newser) - Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker discussed his long history with Donald Trump when took the stand for a second day in Trump's hush-money trial Tuesday. Pecker said he met Trump in the '80s and considered him a friend until 2017, NBC News reports. He testified that at...

First Witness Takes the Stand in Trump Trial

Former 'National Enquirer' publisher testified briefly before trial wrapped for the day

(Newser) - Donald Trump's hush-money trial closed for the day earlier than planned Monday because an alternate juror had a dental appointment, but the prosecution still had time to call its first witness after opening statements . Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was on the stand for around 20 minutes, Politico...

In Trump Case, 'Layers Upon Layers of Evidence'

Opening arguments begin Monday in hush-money case in Manhattan

(Newser) - Opening arguments in the People of the State of New York versus Donald J. Trump—otherwise known as Trump's hush-money trial —get underway Monday morning in a Manhattan courtroom, reports NBC News . The lowdown:
  • First witness: Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office are expected to
...

Trump Grand Jury Hears From Former Enquirer Publisher, Again

Panel's timeline remains unclear

(Newser) - As it remains unclear when a potential former President Trump indictment might be voted on by the Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments to two women in Trump's orbit during the 2016 presidential campaign, the panel heard from a key witness for a second time. David Pecker, a...

Pecker's National Enquirer Helped Bury Stories. Now, He's Out

Parent company American Media Inc. is being taken over by logistics firm Accelerate360

(Newser) - David Pecker is stepping down as CEO of the National Enquirer's parent, ending a reign that saw the company entangled in a campaign finance scandal that sent President Trump's personal lawyer to jail. Pecker's company, American Media Inc., is being taken over by Accelerate360, a logistics firm...

Enquirer Paid Mightily for the Bezos Texts: WSJ

American Media boss was outraged by upfront payment, sources say

(Newser) - The brother of Jeff Bezos' girlfriend provided the National Enquirer with racy texts the Amazon founder sent to Lauren Sanchez and was handsomely rewarded for doing so, sources tell the Wall Street Journal. The insiders say David Pecker, CEO of Enquirer parent company American Media Inc. and an associate of...

The Man Leading Bezos' Investigation Is a Force
Bezos' Blackmail Claims
Get a Response From AMI
the rundown

Bezos' Blackmail Claims Get a Response From AMI

And more on the Amazon founder's allegations of blackmail

(Newser) - Jeff Bezos was made an offer he couldn't refuse and refused it, very publicly, on Thursday, by way of a Medium blog post that outlined National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc.'s (AMI) alleged attempt to blackmail him with sexual photos. AMI responded Friday morning with a...

Ronan Farrow Says AMI Tried to Blackmail Him

Jeff Bezos wasn't the only one, he says

(Newser) - Hours after Jeff Bezos accused the National Enquirer's parent company of blackmail , Ronan Farrow said American Media Inc. had done the same thing to him and at least one other journalist. Farrow tweeted Thursday night that after breaking stories on the Enquirer's "catch and kill" arrangement with...

Jeff Bezos Accuses Owner of Enquirer of Extortion

He says David Pecker's American Media is threatening him over photos and texts

(Newser) - Jeff Bezos has just put up a remarkable blog post on Medium in which he accuses the publisher of the National Enquirer of "extortion and blackmail." The Amazon CEO says that instead of giving in, he's going public with the threats—even publishing the letters sent to...

New Report on Hush Payments Could Be Bad News for Trump

'WSJ' says he was directly involved at 'nearly every step' in arranging payments to women

(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal is out with an investigative report on President Trump asserting that he played a direct role in arranging hush-money payments to women alleging affairs with him, despite two years of denials. Trump "was involved in or briefed on nearly every step of the agreements,"...

Report: Enquirer Had 20 Years of Buried Trump Stories

President tried to buy them all, says the 'New York Times'

(Newser) - Last week, the AP reported that the National Enquirer kept unpublished stories about Donald Trump locked away in safe . Now the New York Times adds a coda: Trump tried to buy everything in that safe, stories going back about 20 years. The newspaper reports that Trump discussed the strategy with...

Report: Enquirer Stashed Trump Stories in a Safe

They were moved before the inauguration, sources say

(Newser) - The National Enquirer kept a safe containing documents on hush money payments and other damaging stories it killed as part of its cozy relationship with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 presidential election, people familiar with the arrangement tell the AP . The detail came amid reports that federal prosecutors...

New Subpoena in Cohen Case Puts Focus on National Enquirer

Federal prosecutors looking into how America Media Inc. handled Playboy model's story

(Newser) - The National Enquirer paid a former Playboy model $150,000 during the 2016 campaign for the rights to her allegations that she'd had an affair with Donald Trump but then killed the story. Does that amount to an illegal campaign contribution? That's one of the questions federal prosecutors...

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