David Pecker To Be First Witness At Trump's Hush Money Trial: NYT

David Pecker, a key figure in the hush-money scandal involving former President Donald Trump, is set to be the first witness in Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan.

The New York Times first reported that Pecker would be the prosecution's initial witness.

Pecker, the former CEO of the company that published The National Enquirer, is expected to provide crucial testimony about his role in suppressing stories detrimental to Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to sources familiar with the trial preparations, Pecker will discuss several conversations with Trump regarding the hush money payments.

The charges against Trump stem from a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016, intended to prevent her from publicizing a claimed sexual encounter with Trump. Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, facilitated the payment and was later reimbursed by Trump, a transaction prosecutors argue was fraudulently recorded as legal expenses by Trump’s company.

If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison, though the actual sentence could be less severe.

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