Former AMI Editor Describes Favor Bank of Killed Trump Stories
CABRERA: Now we know of three payments made to prevent unflattering stories about Donald Trump from going public. One, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, one to former playmate Karen McDougal, and now a doorman of Trump Tower. The last two both reportedly paid by "National Enquirer" publisher, AMI, a company whose boss is a friend and protector of Donald Trump. Tom Foreman has more.</s>TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Obama Wiretapped Trump." "Hillary: Corrupt! Racist Criminal!" In lurid attacks on politicians, the "National Enquirer" hits hard, fast. But when it comes to Donald Trump, the boxing gloves come off, and the kid gloves go on. "Trump Catches Russia's White House Spy." "Trump Must Build the Wall." "Trump Takes Charge." Why such a difference? The man in charge of that tabloid, David Pecker, is a friend of Donald Trump. And Trump is a fan of Pecker's slash and burn tactics for taking down politicians and celebrities alike.</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've always said, why didn't the "National Enquirer" get the Pulitzer Prize for Edwards and O.J. Simpson and all of these things?</s>FOREMAN (voice-over): The mutually beneficial relationship between the two New Yorkers started in the 1990s over their shared interest in the power and value of headlines. Ever since, they've grown closer and more protective of each other's empires.</s>JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: It was mostly a one-way protection. I mean, this was -- it was really a kind of hero worship on the part of Pecker. I mean, Pecker really looked up to Donald Trump, still does. And he put his very important magazines to work for Donald Trump's interests.</s>FOREMAN (voice-over): For example, when the "National Enquirer" printed a ridiculously false claim about the Kennedy assassination and the father of Ted Cruz, Trump's rival for the Republican nomination, the billionaire jumped on board.</s>TRUMP: On the cover of the "National Enquirer" there's a picture of him and crazy Lee Harvey Oswald having breakfast.</s>FOREMAN (voice-over): In the general election, Pecker's paper raged at Hillary Clinton, attacking her health, her credibility, while giving Trump the tabloid's first and only political endorsement. And most importantly --</s>KAREN MCDOUGAL, FORMER PLAYMATE, PLAYBOY: I know it's wrong. Like, I'm really sorry for that. I know it's a wrong thing to do.</s>FOREMAN (voice-over): -- several have now said Pecker's company bought the rights to stories potentially damaging to Trump just to keep them out of the public eye, a practice called catch and kill. And at one point, an MSNBC host claimed the White House threatened to launch a hit piece on them in the "Enquirer."</s>JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC HOST: They said, if you call the President up and you apologize for your coverage, then he will pick up the phone and basically spike the story.</s>CABRERA: Our thanks to Tom Foreman reporting there. We're back in just a moment.