Who is David Pecker?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former National Enquirer tabloid publisher David Pecker is a key witness in former President Donald Trump's ongoing hush money trial.
At the Enquirer: Pecker was CEO of American Media, Inc. from 1999 to 2019 and oversaw the publishing of popular tabloids such as the Enquirer and other lifestyle magazines. In testimony this week, Pecker described his practice of "catch and kill" at the Enquirer, in which he'd buy up and suppress negative stories about celebrities in exchange for favors.
Pecker and Trump: Ahead of the 2016 election, Pecker said he promised to "run or publish positive stories about Mr. Trump and I would publish negative stories about his opponents. And I said, 'I will be your eyes and ears.'" This allegedly included claims of an affair between Trump and porn star Stormy Daniels, which led to the alleged hush money payment at the center of the trial.
The Trial: Pecker is the first witness to testify against Trump. The former president is accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.
How the Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum focused on the relationship between Pecker and Trump. Left- and center-rated sources covered it more prominently.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Who Is David Pecker? Ex-National Enquirer Publisher Admits ‘Catch And Kill’ Scheme On Trump’s Behalf At Hush Money Trial
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified to jurors in Trump’s Manhattan hush money trial this week about how he worked with Trump and his associates to manipulate coverage on Trump’s behalf—admitting Thursday he stifled affair allegations against Trump as part of an informal agreement with his friend in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
Pecker served from 1999 to 2020 as CEO of National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc., now A360 Media.
Pecker promised Trump after he launched his first presidential bid in 2015 he would act as...
From the Right
Ex-tabloid boss reveals how much he spent buying and killing stories about Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods at Trump hush money trial
David Pecker described his “catch and kill” operations for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods and Mark Wahlberg at Donald Trump’s hush money trial Thursday.
The former National Enquirer honcho said shortly after Schwarzenegger announced his run for California governor in 2003, more than 30 women came forward to the magazine claiming affairs or sexual harassment against the actor, who at the time was married to Maria Shriver.
Silver-haired Pecker, 72, testified he spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars” buying up the negative stories for the bodybuilder-turned-movie star, with whom he was working...
From the Left
Ex-National Enquirer publisher says he pledged to be Trump's 'eyes and ears'
David Pecker, once the publisher of one of America's largest tabloids, testified on the witness stand Tuesday about his history and relationship with former President Donald Trump and how he manipulated coverage of the then-GOP candidate ahead of the 2016 election.
Pecker is the former CEO of American Media Inc., which until 2019 was the publishing company of the National Enquirer magazine. He is now the first witness to testify against Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, in a trial accusing the former president of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records with...
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