I guess I am among the older fashioned who want to see proof, lest at the least precedent is set once more for the kind of witch hunt that once took down a whole preschool on things that were never shown to be more than imagination.
By all means depose the witness and see what the witness’s story becomes under cross examination. See if there are more witnesses and more plaintiffs. Hush money would not be legal if it is to cover a crime, not an alleged tort, so any such agreements could be busted wide open.
Trials still exist for a reason.
We can all agree he should be tried.