First witness who will testify in Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial is identified

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker will be the first witness during the trial of former President Donald Trump in New York which resumes on Monday, according to the New York Times.

Pecker is a central figure in the case after he alerted Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen about Stormy Daniels and her plan to reveal her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

Pecker alerted Trump in October 2016 of Daniel's affair but she ultimately settled a $130,000 non-disclosure deal with Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen.  

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker will be the first witness during the trial of former President Donald Trump in New York which resumes on Monday, according to the New York Times

Former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) sits at the defendant's table at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York,

Pecker's testimony will help jurors understand how he helped Trump kill damaging stories about him 

Prosecutors will grill Pecker about her personal friendship with Trump and his efforts to help him 'catch and kill' negative stories about him during the presidential campaign. 

Pecker is expected to detail how he worked with Trump and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to broker deals.

Prosecutors claim Pecker directed his company to pay a Trump tower doorman who was shopping a dubious story about a 'love child' that Trump had fathered. 

Pecker also directed a payment to former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to suppress her claims of an extended affair with Trump.

The case is expected to bring details of Trumps alleged affairs back into the public consciousness ahead of the 2024 election.  

Prosecutors charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents to cover up the hush money payment. 

Trump has repeatedly denied the affairs and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.