Trump trial: 1st week of testimony ends with testimony from Cohen's former banker

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he was twice summoned to Trump Tower in the period following the 2016 election: the first time for a meeting with Michael Cohen, and the second with Donald Trump.

The first meeting began in Cohen's office, where Cohen divulged for the first time to Pecker that he personally covered the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, and that he was concerned that he would not receive a bonus from the Trump Organization, Pecker testified.

"He (Cohen) asked me to talk to the boss on his behalf to try to help him get his bonus," Pecker said, referring to Trump.

When Trump himself came into the room, Pecker asked to walk him back to his office -- and at that time, Pecker told Trump that "Michael Cohen is very concerned about his bonus for this year, and I want you to know that he's very loyal."

Trump replied that Cohen had several apartments and taxi medallions, and added, "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it," Pecker said.

On Jan. 6, 2017, Pecker arrived at Trump Tower for a meeting with Trump and was escorted to his residence by Jared Kushner, he testified.

Pecker said he was ushered into the room, where Trump was surrounded by administration officials James Comey, Sean Spicer, Reince Priebus, and Mike Pompeo -- they were "updating Mr. Trump on the Ft. Lauderdale shooting" that had occurred at the airport there.

Pecker testified that when Trump introduced him to Trump's inner circle of advisers, Trump said of the National Enquirer publisher, "He knows more than anyone else in this room."

"It was a joke. Unfortunately, they didn't laugh," Pecker testified, which brought some laughs from reporters in the gallery. A few jurors smiled at the moment.

Pecker testified that after Trump's advisers left the room, Trump turned to him.

"He (Trump) asked me how Karen [McDougal] was doing -- how's 'our girl' doing. I said, she's writing her articles, she's quiet, things are going fine."

Trump then said, "I want to thank you for handling the McDougal situation." And then he said, "I want to thank you for the doorman situation," Pecker testified.

Pecker testified that he took this to mean that Trump was thanking him "for not publishing any of the stories and helping the way I did."

After the Wall Street Journal ran a story that began to uncover the catch-and-kill arrangement between National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Donald Trump and Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen, Pecker testified that he ordered National Enquirer's Chief Content Officer Dylan Howard to contact McDougal's lawyer to ensure that she maintained her silence.

"I didn't know if she went off the reservation, so I asked Dylan to call Keith Davidson," Pecker testified before he began reading through a series of text messages from the 2016.

"She's cool. Moving forward with the [confidentiality agreement]," Howard texted Pecker.

"Excellent news," Pecker texted back.

"One day of discomfort and back [to] the campaign issues," Howard texted.

Days later, Trump was elected president of the United States.

Pecker testified that he eventually released McDougal from the agreement -- against the request of Cohen -- to "keep some sort of control around the story."

"Is it fair to say that by the time of this [release from the agreement] … Mr. Trump has already been elected president?" Steinglass asked.

"That's correct," Pecker said.

It was November 4, 2016 -- four days before the presidential election -- and the Wall Street Journal ran a story that began to uncover the catch-and-kill arrangement between National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, Donald Trump and Trump's then-attorney Michael Cohen.

"National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation," the headline read.

Pecker, on the stand, testified that he soon got a call at his home from Donald Trump directly.

"Donald Trump was very upset, saying, 'How could this happen, I thought this was under control,'" Pecker said, adding that Trump suggested it was a leak from the National Enquirer. "He was very agitated. He couldn't understand how this could happen, and the call ended up very abruptly."

Pecker said his company promptly issued a statement denying the story.

"Was that the truth?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked.

"No, it was not," Pecker said.

Asked why he issued the denial, Pecker said, "I wanted to protect my company, I wanted to protect myself, and I wanted also to protect Donald Trump."

"Do you know someone by the same of Stephanie Clifford?"

The question, by assistant district attorney Josh Steinglass, was the jury's introduction during the evidentiary phase of the trial to the woman whose long-denied claim of a sexual tryst with Donald Trump set in motion the alleged falsification of business records.

"Stormy Daniels is, or was, a porn star," former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker replied, using Clifford's stage name.

Pecker was having dinner with his wife on a Saturday night in early October 2016 when he said he received an urgent call from National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard.

"He said that she, she being Stormy Daniels, is trying to sell a story that she had a sexual relationship with Donald Trump, and Dylan can acquire the story for $120,000 from Keith Davidson if we made a decision right now," Pecker recalled.

In a series of text messages the jury saw, Howard told Pecker, "I know denials were made in the past but this story is true."

Pecker replied to Howard, "We can't pay 120k." The company had already paid $30,000 for the Dino Sajudin story and $150,000 for the Karen McDougal story, and Pecker recalled thinking, "I am not a bank."

In the text exchange, Howard responded, "Perhaps I call Michael and advise him and he can take it from there, and handle."

Pecker texted back, "Yes a good idea."

Pecker recalled having "a number of conversations" with Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels. Cohen wanted Pecker to catch and kill the story.

"I said, 'I am not purchasing this story, I am not going to get involved with a porn star,'" Pecker testified he told Cohen. "He was upset and said the boss would be furious with me."