During the ongoing trial, Steinglass has brought attention to Pecker's 2018 FBI interview, where Pecker contradicted earlier FBI notes claiming that Trump did not thank him during a January 2017 meeting. The focus shifted to a subsequent FBI interview conducted one week after a highlighted meeting.
According to notes from the later interview, Trump expressed gratitude to Pecker for handling the Karen McDougal and doorman stories, acknowledging the potential damage they could have caused him. Pecker confirmed to the FBI that during his visit to Trump Tower in January 2017, Trump indeed thanked him for managing these sensitive stories.
When questioned by Steinglass, Pecker affirmed that he had informed the FBI about Trump's expression of gratitude. Pecker's testimony aligns with the notes from the interview, indicating that Trump did acknowledge and appreciate Pecker's efforts in handling the potentially damaging stories.
