Donald Trump’s Pecker problem just exploded

Now that opening statements in Donald Trump’s criminal trial are upon us tomorrow, witnesses for the prosecution are just around the corner. There has been a general sense of who most of the key witnesses against Trump would be, but up to now there has been no official confirmation and no word about the order they’ll go in – until now.

Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker will be the first witness to testify against Trump, according to a report from the New York Times today. This is important for a few reasons.

First, Pecker has previously cut immunity deals against Trump in other cases. So he’s clearly willing to give useful testimony against Trump in this trial in order to protect his own backside.

Second, Pecker will be able to corroborate much of the testimony that Michael Cohen is going to give. Even if the jury might not be inclined to fully believe either witness on their own, the jury should have a much easier time believing the story that these two witnesses – who are certainly not friends – will both tell about Trump.