Former US president Donald Trump’s attorneys on Friday (Apr 26) tried discrediting a former tabloid publisher over his claims that his news outlet tried to suppress facts that could&nbsp;have a negative effect on&nbsp;Trump’s presidential campaign of 2016.

On Friday, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was grilled by Trump’s defence. Pecker earlier testified that he worked with Trump’s campaign to suppress allegations of adultery. Trump lawyer Emil Bove tried highlighting discrepancies in his testimony.

Bove questioned whether Trump had actually thanked Pecker for handling negative stories as he claimed in his testimony. The defence raised questions as his statement conflicted with a report by FBI agents who previously interviewed Pecker, which said Trump had not expressed gratitude. But Pecker in his defence claimed that the FBI report itself could be wrong.

"I know what I testified to, and I know what I remember," Pecker told the court, where 12 jurors and six alternates had assembled to hear Trump’s hush money trial. The case revolves around Trump allegedly falsifying business records and making payments to a porn star shortly before the elections to hide his illicit sexual relationship.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj8s6e6wuCFAxXpyjgGHegjBVIQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-trial-key-witness-reveals-alleged-catch-and-kill-scheme-to-buy-sex-stories-715080" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hush-money-trial-key-witness-reveals-alleged-catch-and-kill-scheme-to-buy-sex-stories-715080&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj8s6e6wuCFAxXpyjgGHegjBVIQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">Trump hush money trial: Key witness reveals alleged `catch and kill` scheme to buy sex stories</a>

Pecker has testified that his tabloid paid to "catch and kill" two of those stories.

Trump denies these charges and has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by New York prosecutors.

<h2>Pecker’s arguments</h2>

Pecker argued that it was usual for major celebrities to get in touch with Enquirer to get good publicity and kill negative stories about them. He also claimed to have served other celebrities in the past, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tiger Woods.

Pecker said how his paper first helped Trump back in 1998 as it gave him a heads up about a negative story linked to Marla Maples, his wife at the time.

Watch:&nbsp;Trump immunity trial: Trump faces SC immunity test as 'hush money trial' continues

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Prosecutors allege that this kind of arrangement between the two sides corrupted the 2016 elections.

Justice Juan Merchan, who is hearing the hush money trial, is yet to rule on the gag order violations by Trump, who&nbsp;could be fined&nbsp;$10,000 for these violations.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US president Donald Trump’s attorneys on Friday (Apr 26) tried discrediting a former tabloid publisher over his claims that his news outlet tried to suppress facts that could have a negative effect on Trump’s presidential campaign of 2016.

Former US president Donald Trump’s attorneys on Friday (Apr 26) tried discrediting a former tabloid publisher over his claims that his news outlet tried to suppress facts that could have a negative effect on Trump’s presidential campaign of 2016. On Friday, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was grilled by Trump’s defence. Pecker earlier testified that he worked with Trump’s campaign to suppress allegations of adultery. Trump lawyer Emil Bove tried highlighting discrepancies in his testimony. Bove questioned whether Trump had actually thanked Pecker for handling negative stories as he claimed in his testimony. The defence raised questions as his statement conflicted with a report by FBI agents who previously interviewed Pecker, which said Trump had not expressed gratitude. But Pecker in his defence claimed that the FBI report itself could be wrong. "I know what I testified to, and I know what I remember," Pecker told the court, where 12 jurors and six alternates had assembled to hear Trump’s hush money trial. The case revolves around Trump allegedly falsifying business records and making payments to a porn star shortly before the elections to hide his illicit sexual relationship. Also read: Trump hush money trial: Key witness reveals alleged `catch and kill` scheme to buy sex stories Pecker has testified that his tabloid paid to "catch and kill" two of those stories. Trump denies these charges and has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by New York prosecutors. Pecker’s arguments Pecker argued that it was usual for major celebrities to get in touch with Enquirer to get good publicity and kill negative stories about them. He also claimed to have served other celebrities in the past, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tiger Woods. Pecker said how his paper first helped Trump back in 1998 as it gave him a heads up about a negative story linked to Marla Maples, his wife at the time. Watch: Trump immunity trial: Trump faces SC immunity test as 'hush money trial' continues × Prosecutors allege that this kind of arrangement between the two sides corrupted the 2016 elections. Justice Juan Merchan, who is hearing the hush money trial, is yet to rule on the gag order violations by Trump, who could be fined $10,000 for these violations. (With inputs from agencies)

Hush money trial: Trump’s defence grills publisher Pecker over ‘discrepancies’ in testimony

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">US President Donald Trump</a> was at a meeting in August 2015 when his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">personal lawyer Michael Cohen</a> and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women.

As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election.

In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed.

The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters.

Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign.

Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign.

Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions.

In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday. A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women. As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election. In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed. The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters. Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment. Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign. Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign. Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions. In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

Trump was at meeting in 2015 when hush payments were discussed: Source

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Hush money trial: Trump’s defence grills publisher Pecker over ‘discrepancies’ in testimony

Trump was at meeting in 2015 when hush payments were discussed: Source