David Pecker testified about protecting Donald Trump using 'catch and kill' strategy
Manhattan district attorney is currently investigating Trump for business fraud related to these hush money payments
National Enquirer paid $130,000 to bury Karen McDougal's allegations of an affair with Trump
Pecker admitted to buying false story about Trump fathering an illegitimate child for $30,000
Pecker and Cohen used the Enquirer to smear Trump's Republican rivals in the 2016 primary
In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified in a New York courtroom about his role in protecting Donald Trump and smearing his political rivals. Pecker detailed how he used the tabloid's 'catch and kill' strategy to intercept negative stories about Trump and publish positive ones instead.
Pecker, who was once considered a close friend of Trump, testified that he had never bought and buried stories about Trump before August 2015. This is around the time when his involvement in supporting the campaign began. The publisher admitted to purchasing a false story about Trump fathering an illegitimate child for $30,000 to protect him.
The National Enquirer also paid $130,000 to bury Karen McDougal's allegations of an affair with Trump. Pecker believed this story could have damaged his campaign if it were made public. The tabloid communicated its actions at Michael Cohen's direction.
Pecker and Cohen used the Enquirer to smear Trump's Republican rivals in the 2016 primary, including Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Ben Carson. The relationship between Pecker and Trump was kept secret from staff, with Pecker operating a secret email account to avoid leaks.
The Manhattan district attorney's office is currently investigating Trump for business fraud related to these hush money payments. The trial continues.
David Pecker testified in Trump’s hush money trial on Tuesday.
Pecker appeared less enthused during his second courtroom appearance.
They had a mutually beneficial relationship
Trump was viewed as ‘The Boss’ on The Apprentice
Pecker addressed Trump privately as ‘Donald'
They agreed to be each other’s ‘eyes and ears''
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several examples of deception. The author uses emotional manipulation by describing Pecker's appearance and behavior in a way that implies he is less credible or trustworthy due to his age and appearance. He also uses sensationalism by implying that the trial is 'a surreal distillation of reality show celebrity into American political history' and that there will be 'spicy' revelations. The author selectively reports details, focusing on negative stories about Trump's rivals while omitting any mention of positive stories or context. He also uses editorializing language, such as describing Pecker as a 'supermarket sleaze' and Trump as a 'reality show kingpin'.
The former publisher of the National Enquirer appeared less enthused about his second courtroom appearance at Trump’s hush money trial on Tuesday.
The most bizarre [National Enquirer] headline concerned Texas Sen. Ted Cruz: ‘Donald Trump Blasts Ted Cruz’s Dad for Photo with J.F.K. Assassin.’
Pecker recalled telling Trump of an internal AMI poll that showed 80 percent of National Enquirer readers wanted Trump to run for president. Trump cited the number on The Today Show and suggested he might be running.
He looked worn and considerably less enamored with himself as he strode into the 15th floor courtroom.
A surreal distillation of reality show celebrity into American political history came as the courtroom’s four large screens and various small screens before the jurors, lawyers and the judge showed an email from Trump fixer Michael Cohen inviting Pecker to be at Trump Tower when Trump formally announced he was running for president.
Another was particularly startling in the context of a Trump trial involving hush money for an adult film actress: ‘Ted Cruz Shamed by Porn Star.’
Fallacies
(85%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric in describing Trump and Pecker as 'supermarket sleaze' and 'natives of New York's outer boroughs rather than blue bloods from Manhattan'. This is an appeal to emotion and a dichotomous depiction. The author also makes assumptions about the motivations of Trump and Pecker without providing evidence, which is a fallacy.
]The former publisher of the National Enquirer appeared less enthused about his second courtroom appearance at Trump’s hush money trial on Tuesday.[
He looked worn and considerably less enamored with himself as he strode into the 15th floor courtroom.
Pecker recalled telling Trump of an internal AMI poll that showed 80 percent of National Enquirer readers wanted Trump to run for president. Trump cited the number on The Today Show and suggested he might be running.
Bias
(80%)
The author, Michael Daly, demonstrates a clear political bias against Donald Trump throughout the article. He uses language that depicts Trump in a negative light and portrays him as untrustworthy and devoid of inner life. The author also quotes Pecker's testimony about Trump's request to buy stories about his rivals for the Republican nomination, which is presented in a way that implies Trump's actions were wrong or unethical.
Despite the infinity-Trump on the screen, he looked particularly solitary when left to his own devices–because he does not seem to have any devices.
Pecker testified that he learned in June 2016 that former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal was seeking to sell a story of a nearly year-old affair with Trump. The tale, as told by Pecker, reached the point where Trump called him and said, ‘Don’t buy any stories. Any time you do something like this it always gets out.’
The former president appears to be devoid of inner life when he is not being actively admired.
The most damning thing he had to say about himself was that he engaged in ‘checkbook journalism.’
Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker revealed the tabloid's sleazy tactics to protect Donald Trump and smear his rivals during the 2016 election.
Pecker testified that he would run positive stories about Trump and publish negative stories about his opponents, acting as Trump’s eyes and ears.
The Enquirer paid $130,000 to bury Karen McDougal’s allegations of an affair with Trump, a story Pecker believed could have damaged his campaign.
Pecker admitted purchasing a false story about Trump fathering an illegitimate child for $30,000 to protect him.
Pecker and Cohen used the Enquirer to smear Trump’s Republican rivals in the 2016 primary, with the tabloid communicating its actions at Cohen’s direction.
The relationship between Pecker and Trump was kept secret from staff, with Pecker operating a secret email account to avoid leaks.
Accuracy
]Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker revealed the tabloid's sleazy tactics to protect Donald Trump and smear his rivals during the 2016 election.[
The Enquirer paid $130,000 to bury Karen McDougal’s allegations of an affair with Trump.
Deception
(30%)
The article by Oliver Darcy contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the collusion between Donald Trump and the National Enquirer to boost his candidacy and smear his opponents, implying that this is a negative thing. However, he fails to mention that similar tactics were used against other politicians as well. This creates an emotionally charged narrative without providing a balanced perspective. Additionally, the author quotes David Pecker's testimony in detail, which implies endorsement of the information presented.
Pecker spoke at length about how he worked with former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to ‘catch and kill’ stories that could have damaged the then-candidate...
The highly-anticipated court appearance from Pecker, who was granted immunity in exchange for his candid testimony at the trial, put a floodlight on the dark underbelly of the Enquirer...
Meanwhile, Pecker worked with Cohen to smear Trump’s Republican rivals in the 2016 primary, including Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio...
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting David Pecker's testimony in court. However, the author also provides context and analysis of the situation, which goes beyond just reporting the testimony.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the ‘Reliable Sources’ newsletter.
Pecker spoke at length about how he worked with former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to ‘catch and kill’ stories that could have damaged Trump's campaign, such as Karen McDougal's allegations of an affair.
Pecker testified that the Enquirer would ‘communicate what we were doing at the direction of the article from Michael Cohen’, even sending him PDF copies of stories in advance.
Bias
(5%)
The author, Oliver Darcy, demonstrates a clear political bias against Donald Trump and his allies. He describes their actions as 'sleazy' and 'shameful lies and innuendo.' The author also implies that Trump colluded with the National Enquirer to protect himself and smear his opponents. While it is true that the National Enquirer did engage in these activities, the author's language is biased and judgmental.
Meanwhile, Pecker worked with Cohen to smear Trump’s Republican rivals in the 2016 primary, including Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio.
Pecker was so determined to protect Trump that he even purchased a story from Manhattan doorman Dino Sajudin, despite believing it to be bogus.
The tabloid portrayed in open court as a tawdry publication willingly serving as a political weapon for Trump truth and basic ethics be damned.
President Trump’s hush money scandal involved a payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.
'Pecker's role involved 'catch and kill', a practice where stories unfavorable to Trump were bought and buried by his associates.
δecker testified that he had never bought and buried stories about Trump before August 2015, which is around when his involvement in supporting the campaign began.
㭎cker also discussed a $30,000 payment to Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudin for a tip regarding an alleged child fathered by Trump. The story was never published and 㭎cker said it would have been released only after the election if it were true.
㭎cker's testimony bolsters the idea that these actions occurred with the 2016 campaign in mind, given their timing and connections to Cohen and Trump.
Accuracy
President Trump's hush money scandal involved a payment to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Trump faces a criminal trial over the payment, and whether the payment was campaign-related or personal is one of the biggest legal questions.
The Manhattan district attorney's office argues that Trump's alleged falsifications of business records are felonies because they covered up a crime, and accuses him of election interference.
David Pecker, former National Enquirer tabloid executive and key witness in the case, testified that Trump’s interest in the payment was related to the 2016 campaign.
Pecker's role involved ‘catch and kill’, a practice where stories unfavorable to Trump were bought and buried by his associates.
The arrangement between Pecker, Trump, and Michael Cohen appeared mutually beneficial in terms of newsstand sales for the Enquirer and support from its readers for the candidate.
Pecker testified that he had never bought and buried stories about Trump before August 2015, which is around when his involvement in supporting the campaign began.
Pecker also discussed a $30,000 payment to Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudin for a tip regarding an alleged child fathered by Trump. The story was never published and Pecker said it would have been released only after the election if it were true.
Sajudin’s nondisclosure agreement was indeed lifted after the election, in December 2016, which prosecutors argue reinforces that such efforts were campaign-related.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position. The author states that 'We quickly got to the meat of the issue Tuesday, thanks to the testimony of former National Enquirer tabloid executive David Pecker.' However, he fails to mention that Pecker testified about buying and burying negative stories about Trump's opponents as well. This information would weaken the author's argument that these actions were solely for the benefit of Trump's campaign. The author also uses emotional manipulation by stating 'It has accused Trump of not just illegal payments, but also election interference.' This statement is designed to elicit an emotional response from readers and influence their perception of the situation.
It has accused Trump of not just illegal payments, but also election interference.
We quickly got to the meat of the issue Tuesday, thanks to the testimony of former National Enquirer tabloid executive David Pecker.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The author, Aaron Blake, repeatedly states that the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels was made with the campaign in mind. He provides testimony from David Pecker, a significant witness in the case, who also testified that Trump's interest pertained to the campaign. The prosecutor noted that efforts to bury negative stories about Trump and run positive ones were solely beneficial to his campaign. Pecker also disclosed that he had never bought and buried stories about Trump before August 2015, which is around the time of Trump's presidential campaign launch.
It remains to be seen how hard Trump’s defense contests the idea that the hush money payment was campaign-related.
Pecker testified that Trump's interest pertained to the campaign. He repeatedly suggested this was the overriding concern of such efforts.
]The Manhattan district attorney's office argues that Trump orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election.[
The prosecutor noted that Pecker's buying a story and not running it didn’t really serve the tabloid’s purposes. Pecker agreed that that portion of the arrangement was solely beneficial to Trump’s campaign.
