David Pecker's testimony at Donald Trump’s hush-money trial showed focus on election

Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker's testimony Tuesday at Donald Trump’s hush-money trial illustrated the prosecution’s argument that Trump participated in a conspiracy to kill unflattering news stories specifically to influence the 2016 election, rather than − as Trump's defense team has claimed − to spare his family embarrassment.

That intent on part is key to the prosecution's contention that hush money payments were part of an illegal campaign contribution.

Pecker, the former head of National Enquirer’s parent company, testified that the publication paid two sources to kill two scandalous stories about Trump before the 2016 election

In one case, Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc., said the supermarket tabloid paid $30,000 to silence a doorman at Trump Tower, Dino Sajudin, who was shopping a story alleging Trump fathered an illegitimate child – even though Pecker believed the story was false. Pecker called it potentially the biggest story "since the death of Elvis Presley."

In the second case, Pecker said he urged Trump to pay former Playboy model Karen McDougal for her story they had a year-long affair that Trump denies. McDougal received $150,000 for a story that never ran.

“When someone’s running for public office like this, it is very common for these women to call up a magazine like the National Enquirer to try to sell their stories," Pecker testified.

Pecker testifies about National Enquirer buying stories it never published

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 payment to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels, who didn’t come up during Tuesday’s session. Prosecutors contend the charges were part of a conspiracy that violated campaign finance laws.

Trump has pleaded not guilty. He contends he was unaware of the payments and was paying his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a non-disclosure agreement with Daniels.

Pecker had known Trump since the 1980s and was friendly with him. He met with Trump and Cohen at Trump Tower in August 2015 to pledge he would be “the eyes and ears” of the presidential campaign, to prevent negative stories from being published.

After hearing about Sajudin’s story, Pecker called Cohen and recommended buying him off. Pecker’s company paid Sajudin $30,000 under an agreement signed Nov. 15, 2015.

Pecker said reporting proved the story was “absolutely 1,000% untrue.”

Pecker said it was the first time he ever paid for a story to protect Trump. Pecker released Sajudin from the agreement on Dec. 9, 2016, after Trump had won the election.

The other episode covered Tuesday involved McDougal, who was trying to sell her story in June 2016. Dylan Howard, the National Enquirer’s editor, interviewed her in California.

Pecker again let Cohen know about the story and suggested paying off McDougal. Trump was reluctant, so Pecker said he made the payment himself.

"I don't buy any stories," Pecker said Trump told him. "Anytime you do anything like this, it always gets out."

“I made the decision to buy the story because of the potential embarrassment it would have to the campaign and Mr. Trump,” Pecker added.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David Pecker, former National Enquirer exec, killed stories for Trump