Publisher tells Donald Trump trial he killed ‘Playboy’ model affair story that would have been ‘gold’ for tabloid

David Pecker said he didn’t print story as it would have damaged election chances

Former US president Donald Trump sits in the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court in New York. Photo: Reuters

Jack Queen

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified yesterday at Donald Trump’s criminal trial that he suppressed a story about an alleged affair to help Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential bid, even though it would have boosted sales of his tabloid.

Testifying for a third day, Mr Pecker (72) agreed with a prosecutor who asked whether it would have been “National Enquirer gold” to publish the story of former Playboy model Karen McDougal’s claim that she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006 and 2007.