Bove is now going through Pecker's 2018 FBI interview

Day 8 of Trump New York hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

Updated 6:31 p.m. ET, April 26, 2024
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11:16 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Bove is now going through Pecker's 2018 FBI interview

Bove now raises Pecker's 2018 FBI interview, asking if he recalled saying that "Trump did not express any gratitude to Pecker and AMI" during the January 6, 2017, meeting.

Pecker is now looking at his prior testimony.

Bove is working to get Pecker up to speed with the interview notes in front of him.

Meanwhile, attorney Todd Blanche and Trump are leaning in to whisper with each other at the defense table. Blanche covers his mouth as he speaks.

Pecker pushes back on Bove and the interview notes, suggesting the notes could be wrong, "I know what I testified to yesterday and I know what I remember."

"Are you suggesting the FBI made a mistake here?" Bove asks Pecker.
"I know what the truth is, I can't state why this is written this way. I know what was said to me," Pecker testifies.

Pecker confirms that what he's testified to at trial about this is inconsistent with the FBI interview notes.

11:12 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Pecker stands by previous testimony that Trump thanked him for handling potentially damaging stories

Defense attorney Emil Bove is asking about Pecker's testimony that Trump thanked him for handling the situation surrounding potentially damaging stories from former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a Trump tower doorman.

Bove asks Pecker of the testimony, "Was that a mistake?"

"No," Pecker says, furrowing his brow.

"You believe that President Trump said that to you, as you sit here right now?"

Pecker said, “Yes I do."

Specifically, Bove asks Pecker about his testimony yesterday, when the ex-tabloid boss said Trump thanked him for the door man story.

"Was that another mistake?" Bove challenges Pecker
Pecker responds, "No."
11:02 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Biden focuses on campaign as Trump trial continues

From CNN's Kaanita Iyer

The White House is attempting to use Donald Trump's legal troubles to draw a contrast between President Joe Biden, who is on the campaign trail, and the former president, who has been in a New York courthouse this week.

Biden's interview with popular radio host Howard Stern was released moments ago and the president's campaign has been using non-traditional media outlets to push his story at times, CNN's Arlette Saenz reports.

Yesterday, Biden said he hasn't watched any of Trump's courtroom drama.

11:09 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Trump attorney is revisiting Pecker's January 2017 meeting with Trump

Bove is revisiting Pecker's January 6, 2017, meeting with Trump at Trump Tower.

Bove walks through Pecker’s previous testimony that Reince Priebus, Mike Pompeo, Sean Spicer and James Comey were in Trump's office standing around his desk when Pecker walked in.

Bove confirmed Pecker's testimony that he believes they were discussing a shooting in Fort Lauderdale.

Bove asks Pecker for more details about how he was let into the office while Trump was being briefed on a domestic national emergency.

"Mr. Trump has a large office, and I was by the door while they were talking with Mr. Trump," Pecker says.

Pecker clarified he didn't overhear the national security conversation. Bove asks Pecker if he knew there was another consequence of that meeting.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass objected and the lawyers are now at the bench.

Judge Juan Merchan sustains the objection.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche whispered to Trump after returning to the defendant's table.

11:06 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Pecker recalls telling Howard and Cohen the National Enquirer was not going to do anything with Daniels' story

Ex-National Enquirer boss David Pecker is testifying about his discussions with then-editor-in-chief Dylan Howard and Trump attorney Michael Cohen about the Stormy Daniels story.

"When Howard contacted you about this payment, the main concern was Howard's reputation," Bove asks. "Yes," Pecker replied.

Bove then asks Pecker about the call he and Howard had with Cohen about the tabloid's parent company, American Media Inc., not paying for the Stormy Daniels story.

"And you meant it?" Bove asks. "I did," Pecker says.

"AMI was not going to do anything on the Stormy Daniels story, correct?" Bove asks. “Yes,” Pecker says.

10:58 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Pecker confirms he wanted nothing to do with Stormy Daniels' story

Bove confirms Pecker wanted nothing to do with it. "That's right," Pecker says.

When Pecker told former National Enquirer editor-in-chief Dylan Howard he wanted nothing to do with it, Bove asks Pecker to confirm he was "speaking for the company and for yourself."

"Yes," Pecker says.

11:00 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Bove is now talking about Stormy Daniels

Bove is now moving on to Pecker's testimony about Stormy Daniels.

11:04 a.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Trump attorney follows up with Pecker about third-party consultant's invoice for McDougal payment

Bove catches a mistake in Pecker's testimony that he saw the third-party consultant's invoice for Trump to pay back AMI for McDougal in 2016.

Bove shows Pecker his interview with the district attorney's office from 2019 where he said the first time he saw that third-party invoice was in 2017. Pecker agrees that was correct.

That agreement was never executed, though it was signed by Cohen and the consultant.

Bove shows the jury the Wall Street Journal article published days before the election that included McDougal's allegation and the agreement. Pecker agreed it had come out before the election.

1:40 p.m. ET, April 26, 2024

Trump is hunched forward and reading a piece of paper

Trump is hunched forward leaning into attorney Todd Blanche's personal space to read a piece of paper during Pecker's testimony. He's now leaning back in his chair.