Judge agrees with prosecution's objection over Trump attorney's questions about Pecker's FBI interview

Testimony ends for the day in Trump hush money trial

By CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Brynn Gingras from the courthouse

Updated 9:03 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024
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4:41 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Judge agrees with prosecution's objection over Trump attorney's questions about Pecker's FBI interview

After the jury left the courtroom, Steinglass brought an objection, arguing that Bove's questions to Pecker about the FBI interview were "improper" and left the jury "with a misimpression."

Judge Juan Merchan sided with Steinglass and said they'll have to correct that in front of the jury on Friday.

The judge said Bove's actions left the jury with the impression that Pecker omitted information about Hope Hicks.

Bove said, "The point of my question was that she was not in the meeting."

Merchan said he wasn't accusing Bove of doing it intentionally, but said he should "be very careful of that."

4:24 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Judge dismisses jury for the day

Judge Juan Merchan is telling the jury court is wrapping up for the day. He's dismissing them for the day.

Only one juror appeared to look over at Trump at the defense table.

4:24 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

The prosecution finished its direct questioning of David Pecker. Here are key lines from this afternoon

From CNN's Lauren del Valle, Jeremy Herb, and Nicki Brown

Prosecutors finished their direct questioning of David Pecker Thursday afternoon. He testified for just about six hours over three days for the prosecution.

Pecker, who is the former publisher of the National Enquirer, continued to give details of the repercussions of the “catch-and-kill” schemes to help Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Here’s a recap from this afternoon:

  • Pecker testified that Trump inquired about Playboy playmate Karen McDougal twice in settings where she wasn’t immediately relevant. Pecker paid to kill a story about an alleged affair between Trump and McDougal just a few months before the 2016 election. "How's Karen doing?” Pecker said Trump asked during a dinner at the White House in 2017. Pecker said he told him she’s doing well and “she’s quiet.”
  • He testified about his August 2017 meeting with McDougal and her attorney Keith Davidson to make sure the National Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., was holding up their end of the agreement with her. Pecker also described talking to White House staffers Hope Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders about amending the agreement with McDougal.
  • When McDougal filed a lawsuit against AMI, Pecker settled and gave her lifetime rights back, he testified. Pecker says that Trump was skeptical of the idea.
  • Pecker also testified about his deal with the Southern District of New York in 2018 to avoid being charged with campaign violations over the payment to McDougal. He cooperated and signed the non-prosecution agreement. He also confirmed he signed a cooperation agreement with the Manhattan district attorney’s office in 2019 that gave him immunity.
  • Pecker says he hasn’t spoken to Trump since February 2019 but still considers him a friend.
4:21 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Attorneys are at the bench after request from Steinglass

The attorneys are at the bench.

Steinglass asked to approach over an objection to Bove's series of questions about Pecker's past testimony relating to Hope Hicks' involvement in the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

4:22 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Pecker confirms he didn't say Hope Hicks was at Trump Tower 2015 meeting in government interview 

Bove asked Pecker whether he told agents at a July 2018 interview that Hope Hicks attended the August 2015 meeting with Cohen and Trump.

Steinglass objected to this question, and Judge Juan Merchan sustained the objection.

Bove then tries again. Pecker asks to see what Bove is referring to, where he didn't mention Hicks. Bove is trying to get Pecker to confirm that he did not mention Hicks when he first told prosecutors in 2018 about the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Meanwhile, Trump is sitting with his arms crossed. He and his other attorney Todd Blanche are leaning over to whisper to each other.

The judge, attorneys and Pecker are reviewing a report from a 2018 interview Pecker had with the government.

Bove again seeks to confirm the report does not indicate that Pecker told the government Hicks was at the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting.

Pecker now confirms he didn't mention Hicks being at the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting in the government interview.

4:11 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Bove asks Pecker to confirm prior testimony about Cohen always angling for something for himself

Bove asks Pecker to confirm his prior testimony that Michael Cohen was always angling for something for himself.

The former publisher confirmed that Cohen asked Pecker to promote personal business ventures for him and his family throughout the years.

Bove says that Pecker had been working with Cohen for at least 8 years before the August 2015 meeting with Cohen. "Yes," Pecker responds.

He confirmed that in 2015 and 2016, Cohen was always clear that he was Trump's personal attorney and he was not working for the campaign.

4:15 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Pecker describes his meetings with prosecutors

Pecker said the most recent meeting he had with prosecutors was a few weeks ago, and he's had about three to five meetings with prosecutors this year.

He said he remembered five to six meetings with federal prosecutors in June, July and August 2018.

Bove then asked a series of questions about how prosecutors prepared Pecker to give "consistent" testimony each time he's testified.

"Maybe not a script but there were no questions that surprised you right?" Bove asked.
"It was a not a script," Pecker said, but he also confirmed he wasn't surprised by any questions from the prosecutor.
4:08 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Bove challenges Pecker about timing of Trump Tower 2015 meeting

Bove is now focusing on the Trump Tower meeting in August 2015.

Bove confirms with Pecker that he first told prosecutors the Trump Tower meeting was the first week of August in 2015 — prosecutors corrected Pecker in that meeting telling him Trump had a debate so it couldn't have been then.

Pecker says, "I discovered it was the middle of August."

Bove pokes holes at Pecker's memory, suggesting that he was told Trump was away from the city the first week of August 2015. Pecker says he doesn't remember being told that.

Pecker confirms he told the grand jury the meeting happened the first week of August 2015.

Bove challenges him, saying that he now "changed" his testimony about the timing on the stand now at trial.

"I don't mean to put you on the spot" Bove says, adding that it's hard to remember what people said almost 10 years ago.

Bove says there are some things "that your mind fills in the gaps."

"What I’m getting at is these things happened a long time ago. And even when you're doing your best … it’s hard to remember exactly what happened when," Bove says.

Pecker shrugs and says he's testifying to the best of his knowledge to be truthful.

Pecker says, "I didn't feel that I added in language."

4:02 p.m. ET, April 25, 2024

Jurors watch closely as Bove questions Pecker

Members of the jury are watching Bove and Pecker closely during this cross-examination. Some jurors who are seated closer to the gallery occasionally look out into the gallery at the reporters.