David Pecker ended his week where he began it: on the stand in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial.
The former National Enquirer publisher wrapped up his testimony on Friday as Trump’s attorneys finished their cross-examination. Lawyer Emil Bove questioned Pecker about key details of his earlier testimony, and sought to cast doubt on his credibility by pointing out what Bove said were discrepancies between Pecker’s account and other evidence.
Prosecutors are now getting the opportunity to pose follow-up questions to Pecker before calling their next witness.
Pecker was the first person called to the stand after opening statements Monday. During hours of testimony over three days, he described a scheme in which he agreed to spend tens of thousands of dollars to purchase the rights to stories that might embarrass Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign and keep them under wraps, a process known as “catch and kill.”
On Thursday, Pecker said that arrangement led him to pay $150,000 to the model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had an affair with Trump in 2006. Trump denies that relationship.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges relate to reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid adult film star Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim of a sexual encounter with Trump days before the 2016 election. Trump denies her account as well.
