– Hope Hicks, former advisor to Donald Trump, broke down in tears while testifying in his hush-money trial
– Prosecutors allege Trump made an illegal $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels
– Hicks testified about working with Trump and Cohen during the scandal, helping the prosecution’s case and revealing Trump’s concern for protecting his family from embarrassing stories
Hope Hicks, a former longtime advisor to Donald Trump, was on the witness stand in his hush-money trial, where she broke down in tears while being questioned. Hicks served as Trump’s campaign press secretary in 2016 and later as his White House communications director. During the trial, she discussed various aspects of Trump’s involvement in the alleged hush-money scheme surrounding the 2016 election.
Hicks’ testimony included details about how the Trump campaign reacted to the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape and its impact on female voters. She described Trump’s initial dismissive attitude towards the tape as just two guys talking, but later acknowledged the damaging impact it had on the campaign. Hicks also recounted efforts made to handle inquiries from journalists regarding hush-money payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office alleged that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, orchestrated by his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen. Hicks testified about her involvement in the campaign’s response to media inquiries about these payments, highlighting Trump’s concern for protecting his family and his mixed reactions to the unfolding scandal. Despite some moments of levity during her testimony, Hicks ultimately provided important details that could impact the outcome of the trial.