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Hope Hicks Testifies in Trump Trial, Detailing Reactions to ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape and Hush Money Fallout
On Friday, Hope Hicks, a former press secretary for Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and later White House communications director, testified in court, sharing insights into the tumultuous period surrounding the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape and subsequent hush money stories. Hicks, visibly anxious, spoke while seated just a few feet from her former boss, recounting the Trump campaign’s reaction to the explosive tape and the Trump White House’s approach to addressing news stories about hush money payments.
Throughout her testimony, Hicks appeared tense and generally avoided eye contact with Trump, who maintained a stern expression as he listened and passed notes to his legal team. During questioning by Trump’s attorney, Emil Bove, Hicks broke down in tears, requiring a brief break to regain composure before she could continue.
Prosecutors used Hicks’ testimony to revisit the scandalous “Access Hollywood” tape that shook Trump’s campaign in the lead-up to the November 2016 election. They also discussed Trump’s alleged efforts to keep Stormy Daniels quiet. Hicks confirmed that the fallout from the tape significantly impacted the campaign’s strategy, leading to a scramble to contain the damage.
During her testimony, Hicks mentioned that Trump seemed more concerned about how the scandal would affect his family, asking for newspapers to be withheld from his residence to shield his wife from negative press. She also disclosed that Trump initially dismissed the “Access Hollywood” transcript, saying it didn’t sound like him, but he appeared upset upon viewing the actual tape.
As the trial continues, prosecutors are delving deeper into the hush money payments and their subsequent concealment. Although the payments themselves are not illegal, Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records due to the alleged mishandling of Michael Cohen’s reimbursement for paying Daniels $130,000 to keep her quiet before the 2016 election.
Hicks’ testimony provided a glimpse into the White House’s internal response when Cohen’s payment to Daniels became public knowledge in 2018. According to Hicks, Trump indicated that it was preferable for the story to emerge in 2018 rather than before the 2020 election. Despite her involvement, Hicks clarified that she had no direct knowledge of the hush money payments or their repayment.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team continued its assault on Cohen’s credibility, portraying him as a rogue operator who often acted without campaign authorization. They questioned Hicks about Cohen’s role and his reputation as “Mr. Fix It,” with Hicks humorously remarking that he got that nickname because he often caused problems before fixing them.
The court also heard testimony from a digital forensics expert who analyzed Cohen’s cell phones. Trump’s lawyers attempted to cast doubt on the credibility of the data by highlighting a four-day lapse between when the phones were obtained and when they were brought to the expert’s department. Despite this, the expert testified that he found no evidence of tampering or manipulation related to the recordings in question.
Finally, Judge Juan Merchan reiterated to Trump that the gag order issued in the trial does not prevent him from testifying or limit what he can say while on the stand. This came after Trump repeatedly claimed the gag order was overly restrictive, including during a campaign rally in Michigan. Merchan clarified that the order does not affect Trump’s ability to testify or engage in campaign speeches.
Trump has already paid the $9,000 fine for previously violating the gag order, using two cashier’s checks.
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