David Pecker, the former head of the National Inquirer, was photographed leaving Manhattan courts on Monday. Pecker’s presence at the court created speculation that the former media mogul was drawn to testify in the investigation into Donald Trump‘s alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
This is the second time Pecker has been called to testify before the grand jury.
Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg has been investigating $130,000 in hush money payments from Trump to Daniels. The two reportedly engaged in an extramarital affair before his 2016 Presidential election.
Pecker and Trump have a storied history. The National Enquirer allegedly purchased exclusive rights to sexual assault stories about Trump with the intent of keeping them unpublished. Former Trump staffer Michael Cohen alleged that the paper and Trump officials engaged in a “catch and kill” scheme to ensure that none of the stories of assault were seen by the public.
It is not known what Pecker said during the supposed testimony. The grand jury is not expected to make a ruling on the case until late April.
The grand jury looking into the Trump hush money investigation met on Monday, when Pecker was present, to look over the evidence collected by Bragg.
Trump was offered by Bragg a chance to testify on his behalf two weeks ago, signaling criminal proceedings were underway. Trump predicted that he would be arrested on Tuesday of last week. No arrest has materialized in the case.
