Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is set to call upon David Pecker, former chairman of American Media Inc., as its initial witness against Donald Trump. As head of American Media Inc., responsible for publishing the National Enquirer, Pecker is accused of involvement in multiple “catch-and-kill” operations in which potentially damaging stories were acquired and then suppressed.
Pecker, however, presided over an organization that had to settle numerous lawsuits for its fabrications and fantasies, including the 2014 case involving the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, the 2003 case of Rep. Gary Condit, the 2017 case featuring Judge Judy, as well as stories featuring Kate Hudson, and others.
Prosecutors are expected to call on Pecker following completion of opening statements.
Pecker also stands accused of “extortion and blackmail” – words used by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos after the Enquirer acquired correspondence belonging to Bezos and his then-lover Lauren Sanchez.