David Pecker Testifies About Trump’s “Catch and Kill” Scheme
Photo credit: The National Enquirer. Stories in the National Enquirer are often entertaining, but it is not generally regarded as an authoritative source for news.
The National Enquirer’s Catch and Kill Scheme
Now retired National Enquirer publisher David Pecker told the court that the future U.S. president invited him to an August 2015 meeting to see how Pecker could “help the campaign.” As a result of that discussions, Pecker said, he agreed to have his publication kill sex-related stories that could have hurt Trump’s clean-cut image in his 2016 White House election campaign.
Pecker’s Testimony
In his testimony, Pecker described Trump as “very detail-oriented, almost as a micromanager from what I saw. He looked at all of the aspects of whatever the issue was.” Pecker said that at the first meeting with Trump and Cohen he asked that the “catch and kill” arrangement be kept secret, saying he wanted it “very confidential” because he did not want it known that he was helping Trump first to win the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and later defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in that year’s national election.
Catch and Kill Scheme Exposed
Pecker said he paid the doorman $30,000, even though upon further investigation his story turned out to be false. He also testified that he paid $150,000 for the rights to a claim by Karen McDougal, Playboy magazine’s 1998 Playmate of the Year, that she had a months-long affair with Trump, and then killed that story, too.
Trump’s Defense
Trump has denied the claims of the women involved, stating that the allegations are false and made up. His legal team argues that the payments were made to silence the women and protect Trump’s reputation, rather than to influence the election.
Criminal Trial
Trump is accused of scheming to hide hush money payments to three women: Sajudin, McDougal, and porn actress Stormy Daniels. The trial has shed light on the “catch and kill” scheme used by the National Enquirer to silence the women and protect Trump’s reputation.
Conclusion
The testimony of David Pecker has shed light on the “catch and kill” scheme used by the National Enquirer to silence women who were allegedly involved in affairs with Donald Trump. The scheme has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it was illegal and unethical. The trial will continue to unfold, with prosecutors presenting evidence and witnesses to make their case against Trump.
FAQs
Q: What is the “catch and kill” scheme?
A: The “catch and kill” scheme refers to a practice used by the National Enquirer where the tabloid would pay an individual for exclusive rights to a story, and then kill the story by not publishing it.
Q: Why did the National Enquirer use this scheme?
A: The National Enquirer used the scheme to silence women who were allegedly involved in affairs with Donald Trump, and to protect Trump’s reputation.
Q: Is the “catch and kill” scheme illegal?
A: Yes, the “catch and kill” scheme is illegal and unethical.
Q: What is the purpose of the criminal trial?
A: The purpose of the trial is to determine whether Donald Trump is guilty of the charges brought against him, including allegedly paying hush money to women to silence them and protect his reputation.