Testimony continues in Trump criminal trial

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Former president Donald Trump is wrapping up his first week on criminal trial for alleged hush money payments.

David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher, did admit to burying embarrassing stories of then presidential candidate Trump leading up to the 2016 election.

The former president’s defense team spent the day trying to find holes in his story.

Inside the courtroom the 12 jurors listened as Trump’s attorneys attempted to pick apart Pecker’s testimony.

Pecker admitted he helped buy and then kill embarrassing stories.

The ex-tabloid owner says Trump thanked him for his help in 2017 at the White House, a detail defense attorneys say did not match his previous statement.

Trump and his defense say the “catch and kill” arrangement with Pecker is a standard operating procedure.

Prosecutors argue the payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and others were illegal because they were not disclosed in financial records.

After Pecker wrapped up his testimony Trump’s long time former assistant took the stand.

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and will be back in court on Monday.