“Karen McDougal was a Playboy model,” former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker said, recalling how he learned in June 2016 “that there’s a Playboy model who is trying to sell a story about a relationship that she had with Donald Trump for a year. “
Pecker said he immediately called Trump’s then-attorney Michael Cohen to inform him. By then, he was speaking to Cohen “a couple times a week,” but that soon changed. Pecker said he and Cohen spoke “much more frequently” about McDougal’s claims.
“Michael was very agitated. It looked like he was getting a lot of pressure to get the answer right away,” Pecker said. “He kept on calling, and each time he called he seemed more anxious.”
Pecker said he assumed “Mr. Trump was asking Michael Cohen, ‘Did we hear anything yet?'” Pecker said.
“Did you ever come to believe that Michael Cohen had spoken with Mr. Trump about McDougal’s claims?” prosecutor Josh Steinglass asked.
“Yes I did,” Pecker responded before recounting a phone conversation Pecker said he himself had with Trump.
“I said I think the story should be purchased and we should buy it,” Pecker recalled telling Trump. “Mr. Trump said to me, ‘I don’t buy stories. Anytime you do anything like this, it always gets out.'”
Ultimately, McDougal was paid $150,000 and promised a series of exercise articles in the publication.
Following that testimony, the court was adjourned.
It’s expected the jury will hear more on McDougal upon Pecker’s return to the witness stand, when the court resumes on Thursday.
