{"id":562170,"date":"2023-03-11T00:23:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T21:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/"},"modified":"2023-03-11T00:23:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T21:23:30","slug":"5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"#5 key figures in the Manhattan DA\u2019s Trump probe"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a33bd7157a58\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a33bd7157a58\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#5_key_figures_in_the_Manhattan_DAs_Trump_probe\" >5 key figures in the Manhattan DA\u2019s Trump probe<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#Stormy_Daniels\" >Stormy Daniels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#Alvin_Bragg\" >Alvin Bragg<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#Michael_Cohen\" >Michael Cohen<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#Allen_Weisselberg\" >Allen Weisselberg<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/#David_Pecker\" >David Pecker<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_key_figures_in_the_Manhattan_DAs_Trump_probe\"><\/span>5 key figures in the Manhattan DA\u2019s Trump probe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>Former President Trump is engulfed in a number of legal battles, but signs are growing that Manhattan prosecutors\u2019 Stormy Daniels investigation could soon produce criminal charges, which would be a first for a former U.S. president.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/03\/09\/nyregion\/trump-potential-criminal-charges-bragg.html\">The New York Times<\/a><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/03\/09\/nyregion\/trump-potential-criminal-charges-bragg.html\">\u00a0reported<\/a> on Thursday that the Manhattan district attorney\u2019s office offered Trump a chance to testify next week before a grand jury hears evidence in the probe, which revolves around a 2016 hush-money payment, a signal that charges are likely.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Charges would be a history-making end to an investigation that has shifted between multiple areas of inquiry and two district attorneys.<\/p>\n<p>As the grand jury proceedings move ahead, here are five key figures to know:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stormy_Daniels\"><\/span><strong>Stormy Daniels<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"980\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1655449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg 980w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/07\/danielsstormy_07102018getty.jpg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>(Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Daniels, an adult-film star whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, received a $130,000 hush money payment from a Trump aide weeks before the 2016 presidential election, part of a nondisclosure agreement over an affair she says she had with the New York real estate mogul in 2006.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Trump denies the affair with Daniels, whom he publicly refers to as \u201chorseface,\u201d and has rejected multiple allegations related to the scheme, which legal experts suggest could lead to charges of falsifying business records against the former president.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did absolutely nothing wrong, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I have wanted to have an affair with Stormy Daniels,\u201d he said in a statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Reports surfaced in January that prosecutors were probing the payment as they empaneled a grand jury, which examines evidence to determine whether someone should be formally charged with a crime.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Times reported Thursday that prosecutors\u00a0offered Trump\u00a0the chance to testify before the grand jury, a step that often comes shortly before charging decisions are made due to local laws in New York state.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alvin_Bragg\"><\/span><strong>Alvin Bragg<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4637\" height=\"3093\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3852365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg 4637w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=1079,720 1079w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=645,430 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/f6e1e07db9534f12ad8ed591b549a9b8.jpg?resize=876,584 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>(AP Photo\/Julia Nikhinson, File)<\/em><\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Democrat Alvin Bragg has overseen the prosecution since taking over as Manhattan district attorney last year.<\/p>\n<p>He replaced Cy Vance Jr. (D), who began the probe by investigating the hush payment. By the time Vance left, however, he had empaneled a grand jury about a different matter: whether Trump\u2019s businesses\u2019 financial statements were manipulated unlawfully for tax and loan benefits.<\/p>\n<p>After taking over, Bragg opted against seeking an indictment on that prong, leading two top prosecutors who believed charges should be brought \u2014 Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne \u2014 to resign.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>\u201cWe developed evidence convincing us that Donald Trump had committed serious crimes. As we put the facts together, many of us came to believe that we had enough evidence to convict him, and we could present a solid case in court that would lead to a guilty verdict,\u201d Pomerantz\u00a0wrote\u00a0in his memoir.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, the probe <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>eared to somewhat fizzle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But recent developments have indicated the opposite as Bragg returns to the hush money. Pomerantz said the matter became known as the \u201czombie theory\u201d within the office, because the original prong had faded but never died.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr5_ab\"><\/aside>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Michael_Cohen\"><\/span><strong>Michael Cohen<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4147\" height=\"2765\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3839407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg 4147w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=1080,720 1080w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=645,430 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/AP21015794560314.jpg?resize=876,584 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>(AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Michael Cohen, Trump\u2019s former personal attorney who made the payment to Daniels, is expected to be a key witness if prosecutors seek an indictment.<\/p>\n<p>Through frequent <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> appearances, Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance violations\u00a0in connection with the payment, has indicated he is eager to testify against Trump and believes he should be charged.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr6_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The hush payment on its own is not illegal, but Cohen claims Trump directed him to make it as the election loomed and reimbursed him in monthly installments while erroneously recording them as a legal retainer fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Legal experts have\u00a0suggested prosecutors\u00a0could attempt to bring state charges of falsifying business records. They would need to show that Trump, with an intent to defraud, was personally involved in unlawfully designating Cohen\u2019s reimbursements a legal expense.<\/p>\n<p>But to secure the felony version of the charge, they would additionally need to show the fraud included an intent to commit another crime, likely a campaign finance violation.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr7_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Cohen was disbarred and served more than a year in prison over the scandal, but using the federal charge as the additional crime against Trump would leverage an untested legal theory.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s attorneys are also likely to attack the credibility of Cohen, a convicted felon who also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Allen_Weisselberg\"><\/span><strong>Allen Weisselberg<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3701132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/WeisselbergAllen_TrumpOrg_081222_AP_John-Minchillo.jpeg?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>(AP Photo\/John Minchillo, File)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg is currently serving a five-month jail sentence at Rikers Island in connection with the Manhattan probe\u2019s tax-benefit prong, but he could also play a pivotal role in the hush-money investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 counts of tax evasion last year in a deal with Manhattan prosecutors, agreeing to testify against the Trump Organization in exchange for the far shorter sentence.<\/p>\n<p>He was personally involved in sending the reimbursement payments to Cohen, according to federal court records, and was\u00a0given immunity\u00a0during the separate investigation that culminated in Cohen\u2019s campaign finance charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But Weisselberg so far has apparently resisted Manhattan prosecutors\u2019 efforts to get him to turn on the former president himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have recently stepped up their pressure by threatening Weisselberg with new, serious charges that revolve around insurance fraud if he doesn\u2019t cooperate, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/02\/02\/nyregion\/trump-weisselberg-fraud.html\">Times reported last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"David_Pecker\"><\/span><strong>David Pecker<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"787\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3894507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png 1400w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=160,90 160w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=645,363 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=320,180 320w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=256,144 256w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=512,288 512w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=640,360 640w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=876,492 876w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-16-PM-1749.png?resize=50,28 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>(Marion Curtis via AP, File)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, on multiple occasions purchased the rights to embarrassing stories about Trump without ever planning to publish them, a practice known as \u201ccatch and kill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In August 2016, Pecker\u2019s company\u00a0paid Playboy model\u00a0Karen McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story about an alleged affair with Trump.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pecker and the tabloid\u2019s then-editor-in-chief, Dylan Howard, became involved in Daniels\u2019s arrangement two months later.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They reportedly declined to pay Daniels to buy her silence, telling Cohen to arrange the payment directly.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/01\/30\/nyregion\/trump-stormy-daniels-grand-jury.html\">Times\u00a0reported\u00a0that<\/a> Cohen was slow to pay, so Howard texted him urging to coordinate something \u201cor it could look awfully bad for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In January, Pecker was seen walking into the building where the grand jury is sitting, according to The Times.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/regulation\/court-battles\/3894294-5-key-figures-in-the-manhattan-das-trump-probe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 key figures in the Manhattan DA\u2019s Trump probe Former President Trump is engulfed in a number of legal battles, but signs are growing that Manhattan prosecutors\u2019 Stormy Daniels investigation could soon produce criminal charges, which would be a first for a former U.S. president. The New York Times\u00a0reported on Thursday that the Manhattan district&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":562171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/Collage-Maker-10-Mar-2023-02-04-PM-7813.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[136108,123566,134418,134353,134420,90482,141179,70857,134354,134345,74603,4965],"class_list":["post-562170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-allen-weisselberg","tag-alvin-bragg","tag-congress-blog","tag-court-battles","tag-equilibrium-sustainability","tag-house","tag-mark-pomerantz","tag-michael-cohen","tag-nexstar-media-wire-news","tag-state-watch","tag-stormy-daniels","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=562170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/562171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=562170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=562170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=562170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}