David Pecker, the chief executive of the company that publishes the National Enquirer, was granted immunity by federal prosecutors for providing information about Michael Cohen and President Trump in the criminal investigation into hush-money payments for two women during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the matter. (WSJ)
Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to breaking campaign finance laws after he helped arrange a payment to a former Playboy model with Pecker. The arrangement called into question the legality of Pecker’s decision and what it could mean for American Media, Inc., which also publishes Us Weekly, Star, OK!, In Touch and Life & Style. (Adweek)
Because of the deal with prosecutors, Pecker will reportedly avoid criminal charges, as will chief content officer Dylan Howard. (HuffPost)
WSJ says Pecker has been cooperating with investigators for months since he and his company were subpoenaed around the same time when investigators raided Cohen’s offices. (Mediaite)
The National Enquirer kept a safe containing documents on hush money payments and other damaging stories it killed as part of its cozy relationship with Trump leading up to the 2016 election, people familiar with the arrangement said. (WaPo / AP)