“Donald Trump faces a high-pressure day on Thursday as a crucial witness is expected to describe to the jury for the first time the hush-money payment at the center of the Manhattan criminal trial,” the New York Times reports.
“The witness, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, will take the stand for a third day on Thursday, and this time is likely to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the payment to the porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.”
“Mr. Pecker, whose magazine had previously bought and buried two other salacious stories on Mr. Trump’s behalf, decided not to pay Ms. Daniels for her account of a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump. Instead, Mr. Pecker is expected to explain how he and a top editor brought the story to Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, who then paid Ms. Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet.”
