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06
Apr 2023
Key witness in Trump court case used to run Harrogate media firm
A key witness in Donald Trump's court case used to run a media company in Harrogate.
David Pecker was chief executive of American Media Inc in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential elections. Court documents say he agreed to be the "eyes and ears" for the Trump campaign to prevent negative stories.
AMI owned the tabloid National Enquirer and was at the heart of the 'catch and kill' policy in which it paid hush money to bury stories to protect the former president. Trump is alleged to have falsified accounts when paying back the money.
Adult entertainer Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both claim to have had affairs with Mr Trump, received payments.
AMI acquired Weider Publications, an international fitness and bodybuilding media company with offices at Windsor Court in Harrogate, in 2003.
The Harrogate business, which was run by an American, employed about 30 people and published European and Australian editions of the market-leading magazines Muscle&Fitness and Flex. It also ran a mail order business.
Mr Pecker kept a close eye on developments in Harrogate and often summoned staff from the town to America for business meetings.
He authorised the decision to close the Harrogate office in 2015 and sent a message to staff thanking them on their final day. The building, in the shadow of Windsor House, was later converted to flats.
Windsor Court has been converted from offices to flats.
Despite being a major player in US media circles, Mr Pecker keeps a low media profile so his testimony is eagerly anticipated.
Ryan Goodman, a former special counsel at the Department of Defense, tweeted this week that “David Pecker is going to be a star witness".
Trump is alleged to have falsified records “to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election”.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsification of business records and claims Judge Juan Merchan "hates" him.
Read more:
- Harrogate's Windsor House gets new co-working space and cafe
- Tim Stedman to star in Harrogate Theatre panto again
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