1 of 4 | Hope Hicks, a veteran consultant for previous President Donald Trump, sits for the start of a closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee relatingto Trump’s actions and Russian disturbance in the 2016 election project, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 19,2019 File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 3 (UPI) — The 3rd week of the hush-money trial of Donald Trump concluded Friday with testament from previous assistant Hope Hicks.
Hicks, previous White House interactions director under Trump, affirmed under subpoena Friday as a witness for the prosecution. She was assoonas one of Trump’s closest consultants, remembering that she tookatrip with him “almost every day” throughout his project.
As she took the stand, Hicks commented that she was “really anxious.”
The main focus of the prosecution’s questioning of Hicks was the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape. Hicks stated her response to knowing of the tape through an e-mail from previous The Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold.
Hicks stated she was extremely worried about the tape, though she had just read a records of it at the time. She forwarded Fahrenthold’s e-mail to others in the Trump project, advising that they requirement to hear the tape.
“Need to hear the tape to be sure, reject, reject, reject,” Hicks composed in an e-mail to project authorities consistingof Kellyanne Conway, Steve Bannon and Jason Miller.
“There was agreement amongst us all that the tape was damaging and that this was going to be a crisis,” Hicks affirmed.
Hicks included that Trump minimized the discussion heard on the tape, veryfirst mentioning that it “didn’t noise like something he would state.”
“I think he felt like it was quite requirement things for 2 guys talking with each other,” Hicks stated.
Hicks stayed on the witness stand following about an hour lunch break.
After the break, the questioning moved to Trump’s declared affairs with adult movie starlet Stormy Daniels and Playboy design Karen McDougal. A story about the affairs was released in a November 2016 problem of the Wall Street Journal. She did not recall the specific phrasing of the rejection she offered to the Wall Street Journal and stated she was unwilling to recommend she phrased the rejection verbatim from Trump.
She stated she did recall Trump advising her to reject the claims that he had an affair with Daniels.
“What I informed to the Wall Street Journal is what was informed to me,” Hicks stated.
She lateron included that Trump was worried about his otherhalf, Melania Trump, seeing the story.
“I puton’t think he desired anybody in his household to be hurt or ashamed by anything that was takingplace on the project,” Hicks stated. “He desired them to be happy of him.”
Hicks affirmed under subpoena and keptinmind that she is paying for a attorney in relation to this case. She stated she has not spoken to Trump consideringthat 2022.
Judge Juan Merchan opened Friday’s procedures clarifying to the previous president that the gag order versus him does not block or limitation his capability to affirm. Trump declared outside the courtroom Thursday that the gag order does not enable him to take the stand.
Merchan likewise clarified his judgment on the “Access Hollywood” tape, stating a complete records will be permitted into proof.
Initially, Merchan ruled an post and