Mary Trump, the niece of Donald Trump, has criticized testimony in her uncle’s hush money case. David Pecker, a longtime friend of the former president and former chairman, president, and CEO of American Media Inc. (AMI), took the stand as the only witness thus far in the Manhattan trial. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by using former “fixer” and attorney Michael Cohen to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied Daniels’ allegations.
Pecker said that he purchased the rights to a story that former Playboy model Karen McDougal was shopping in 2016. Prosecutors argue that this was not about keeping embarrassing stories from Melania but rather a calculated move to influence the outcome of the 2016 election. Pecker told the jury that coverup efforts he assisted in were designed to protect the then-Republican candidate’s 2016 campaign rather than his family.
Melania Trump is celebrating her 54th birthday and hasn’t made an appearance at her husband’s trial. Sources told the Seattle Times that Melania has privately called the proceedings a “disgrace,” equating the trial to “election interference.” Pecker said he had a conversation with the president-elect at Trump Tower in January 2017, where Trump thanked him for paying McDougal for her silence and for assisting in other coverups.