The second week of Donald Trump’s criminal trial came to a close with the defense team questioning David Pecker’s testimony for any inconsistencies. Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, stuck to his previous statements regarding Trump’s appreciation for burying negative stories.
Defense attorney Emil Bove raised doubts about Pecker’s recollection of a 2017 meeting at Trump Tower by referencing an FBI document that contradicted Pecker’s account. Despite the challenge, Pecker remained steadfast, insisting on the accuracy of his earlier statements.
In response, prosecutors provided additional evidence supporting Pecker’s version of events, including consistent statements made in other interviews and grand jury testimony.
Bove also probed Pecker about legal agreements signed by his former company, American Media Inc., in an attempt to undermine Pecker’s assertions of campaign finance law violations. However, during redirect questioning, Pecker acknowledged the company’s admission of violating election law through a hush money payment to Karen McDougal.
After Pecker’s testimony, jurors heard from Rhona Graff, a longtime Trump Organization executive assistant, who reluctantly took the stand under a subpoena.
Graff revealed her involvement in managing contact information for McDougal and Stormy Daniels at the Trump Organization. She recalled seeing Daniels at Trump Tower in 2015 and speculated that Daniels might have been there as a potential contestant for “The Apprentice.”
The day concluded with testimony from Gary Farro, a former banker for Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen. Farro discussed opening an account for Cohen’s LLC in October 2016 and detailed Cohen’s use of the account to transfer funds to Daniels’ attorney in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump.
Farro’s testimony regarding the hush money to Daniels is expected to continue after the trial’s scheduled day off on Monday.