In court proceedings related to Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan, magazine mogul David Pecker revealed an anecdote about Michael Cohen trying to organize a photoshoot with Mark Cuban to make Trump jealous. Cohen, who had been Pecker’s point of contact at Trump Tower since 2007, was expected to be a star witness against Trump at the trial. Pecker testified that Cohen asked him to send paparazzi to a meeting with Cuban in 2016, but the photos were never published. Cohen ultimately admitted he was trying to pressure Trump to treat him differently.
Cohen, once a lawyer for Trump, left the Trump Organization in 2018 and became one of the former president’s biggest critics. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison after admitting to lying to US congressional committees. Pecker, under cross-examination, insisted he had been truthful to the best of his recollection regarding paying off and silencing Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal. He also maintained his story about Essential Consultants LLC, a shell company he helped set up for Cohen in a failed bid to cover up a payment made to Stormy Daniels.
Two more witnesses were called in court after Pecker’s testimony. Former Trump assistant Rhona Graff testified that she had seen Stormy Daniels at Trump Tower and there was “office chatter” about her being considered for a spot on “Celebrity Apprentice,” which Trump used to host. However, Daniels had other dealings with Trump after Cohen bought her story of an alleged one-night stand with him in 2007 for $130,000. Banker Gary Farro also testified that he helped set up Essential Consultants LLC for Cohen, which was later used in the failed attempt to cover up the payment to Daniels.
Trump, who faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and up to four years in prison, complained about spending his wife Melania’s birthday at the trial. Pecker, who testified to engineering deals and buying stories damaging to Trump, admitted that he felt Cohen was prone to exaggeration. Despite attempts by Trump’s attorney to challenge Pecker’s testimony, he stuck to his story during cross-examination. The trial is set to resume on Tuesday, with Farro expected to continue his testimony. Trump has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges related to the hush money payments.