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Pecker recalls the first use of "catch and kill" to bury a Trump story
Pecker described reaching out to Cohen after a National Enquirer editor received a tip that a Trump Tower doorman was trying to sell "a story that Donald Trump fathered an illegitimate girl with a maid at Trump Tower."
Pecker later concluded that the story was not true. As he described the allegation in court, Trump could be seen shaking his head, turning to Blanche and mouthing "no."
Pecker said when he first learned of the story in 2015, "I immediately called Michael Cohen and described exactly what I was told." He gave Cohen the doorman's name, Dino Sajudin, and that of the maid, and asked Cohen to verify they worked at Trump Tower.
"Immediately, Michael Cohen says to me, 'Absolutely not true, but I'll check it out,'" Pecker testified.
Pecker later called Cohen and told him a National Enquirer editor negotiated to buy the story for $30,000. It was the first time the publication had ever decided to purchase a story about Trump, he testified. The price was far more than what the tabloid typically paid, which he said was up to $10,000 for the stories about the biggest celebrities.
"I said I'll pay for it, this is a very big story and it should be removed from the market," Pecker said he told Cohen.
"He said, 'Thank you,' and, 'The boss will be very pleased,'" Pecker testified, later clarifying that it was apparent "the boss" was Trump.
Jurors were shown the "source agreement" for the story, signed by Sajudin, who is among those who might testify during the trial.
It included the following provision, and a warning that Sajudin could be sued for $1 million if he violated it:
"Source shall provide AMI with information regarding Donald Trump's illegitimate child, and any and all documentation, including but not limited to letters and any legal documents, and photographs in Source's possession relevant to the Exclusive," the document said.
Pecker said he told Cohen that if the story was true, he would consider publishing it after the election, when it would not "embarrass the campaign."
"I thought if the story was true … it would be probably the biggest story for the National Enquirer since the death of Elvis Presley," Pecker testified.
The Enquirer never published the story. An invoice for payment to Sajudin was described internally as "regarding 'Trump' non-published story."
BY GRAHAM KATES
