Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asks David Pecker to explain his relationship with Trump.
"I’ve had a great relationship with Mr. Trump over the years," Pecker says.
Second day of testimony wraps in Trump hush money trial
From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse
Updated 6:28 p.m. ET, April 23, 2024
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Pecker says he's had "great relationship" with Trump
David Pecker says he's known Trump since the '80s
David Pecker testified that he's known Donald Trump since the late 1980s.
Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked him to identify him in the courtroom. Pecker smiled, pointed over to the defense table and said, "He's sitting, wearing, I think, a dark blue suit."
Trump leaned back in his chair and gave a smirk to Pecker as he pointed to Trump.
David Pecker testified for less than 30 minutes yesterday
Prosecutor Josh Steinglass will lead the questioning of David Pecker who is on the witness stand.
Pecker testified for less than 30 minutes yesterday.
Witness David Pecker resumes testimony. Here are key things to know about the former tabloid executive
From CNN's Kaanita Iyer
David Pecker is back on the stand to resume his testimony.
As the then-chairman of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer, Pecker was involved in numerous “catch-and-kill” schemes he orchestrated on behalf of Donald Trump, and he allegedly helped broker the deal with Stormy Daniels.
According to court documents, an agent for Daniels contacted AMI in October 2016 and said she was willing to go public with her allegations of an affair with Trump. Pecker then allegedly contacted Cohen, who subsequently negotiated the deal, per court filings from Cohen’s plea agreement.
In a separate incident, AMI agreed to pay model and actress Karen McDougal $150,000 months before the 2016 election for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump. While this payment is not part of the charges against the former president, prosecutors are expected to use it to establish a pattern of such payments.
Pecker has been granted immunity in exchange for his testimony and AMI signed a non-prosecution agreement with prosecutors.
Read up on the other key players in the case.
Jury enters courtroom ahead of continued testimony
Judge Juan Merchan reminded David Pecker that he's still under oath and called for the jury, who then entered.
Testimony will resume soon.
Judge Merchan is back on the bench
Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench.
Trump posts from the courthouse about gag order and calls for judge to recuse himself
Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social about the gag order following the gag order hearing, calling for Judge Juan Merchan to recuse himself.
Trump alleges he is "not allowed" to defend himself, but he has indicated he is willing to take the stand to testify.
Trump and his attorney are looking through a stack of papers he brought to court
As we wait for the judge to return to the bench, Trump has resumed chatting with his attorney Todd Blanche. They are looking at the stack of papers Trump brought in with him.
Trump and his attorney are whispering before judge enters courtroom
Attorney Todd Blanche and Trump were whispering before Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom.
He and Blanche were leaning in close to each other to talk. Trump then veered to his right to talk to attorney Emil Bove, who in now sitting in the first chair.
