Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial [View all]
Source: AP
NEW YORK (AP) Donald Trumps defense team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecutions first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republicans 2016 presidential campaign.
Returning to the witness stand for a fourth day, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was grilled about his memory and past statements as the defense tried to poke holes in potentially crucial testimony for prosecutors in the first criminal trial of a former American president.
Two other witnesses followed Pecker as prosecutors built the foundation of their case involving a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump. Trumps longtime executive assistant told jurors she recalled seeing Daniels in a reception area of Trump Tower, though the date of the visit wasnt clear.
Peckers testimony provided jurors with a stunning inside look at the supermarket tabloids catch-and-kill practice of purchasing the rights to stories so they never see the light of day. Hes believed to be a key witness to bolster prosecutors theory that Trump sought to illegally influence the 2016 race by suppressing negative stories about his personal life.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-david-pecker-868e6b9d30a039d5009ec6a9d7e96ff7