Trump jury gets‘catch, kill’class on burying negative press

NEW YORK – A colorful former tabloid publisher took the witness stand Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) at Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial and described how he suppressed negative stories about the real estate tycoon, a practice known as “catch and kill.”

Trump, 77, the first former US president to face criminal charges, is accused of falsifying business records to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels over a 2006 sexual encounter that could have damaged his 2016 presidential bid.

Prosecutors allege that Trump engaged in “election fraud” by having his then personal lawyer Michael Cohen make a $130,000 payment to the adult film actress on the eve of the 2016 election in which he defeated Hillary Clinton.

David Pecker, 72, former publisher of the National Enquirer, was the first witness called to testify by prosecutors at Trump’s high-stakes trial, which comes less than seven months ahead of his expected rematch against President Joe Biden.

Prosecutors are seeking with Pecker’s testimony to demonstrate that the “catch and kill” scheme of squashing negative stories was one commonly used by Trump and Cohen, the once loyal “fixer” who has since turned against his former boss.

Pecker took the stand after a nearly 90-minute hearing during which Judge Juan Merchan was asked by prosecutors to hold Trump in contempt of court for violating a partial gag order preventing him from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors or court staff.

Merchan heard arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys but did not issue an immediate ruling.