Hope Hicks Testifies at Donald Trump’s Hush Money Trial: Key Details Revealed

Hope Hicks, a former White House official and longtime Trump adviser, testified at Donald Trump’s hush money trial on Friday, shedding light on the chaos that ensued after the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in 2016. The tape showed Trump bragging about grabbing women sexually without their permission, causing concern within his campaign about potential political damage.

Hicks described being stunned and huddling with other Trump advisers after learning about the tape’s existence just days before a crucial debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton. She testified that she believed the tape would dominate the news cycle and be a damaging development for the campaign.

Prosecutors called Hicks to the witness stand to strengthen their case alleging that Trump worked to prevent damaging stories about his personal life from becoming public in an effort to influence the 2016 presidential election illegally. Hicks testified that Trump initially claimed he did not know about his then-lawyer Michael Cohen paying off porn actor Stormy Daniels to bury a negative story, but eventually came to believe it was prudent to do so before the election.

While Hicks’ testimony appeared to support the defense’s contention that Trump was trying to protect his reputation and family, not his campaign, she also revealed that Trump was concerned about the impact of the tape on his family. Hicks recounted how the political firestorm that followed the tape’s release overshadowed a Category 4 hurricane that was charging toward the East Coast at the time.

The trial, which could last another month or more, is expected to feature pivotal testimony from Cohen and Daniels. One of the key pieces of evidence disclosed to jurors was a recording of a meeting between Trump and Cohen discussing a plan to purchase the rights to a story from the National Enquirer to prevent it from coming out.

In a victory for Trump, the judge denied a request by prosecutors to ask him about being held in contempt of court for violating a gag order in the case. Trump paid a fine for violating the gag order and is appealing the finding. The trial will resume on Monday with more important witnesses yet to be called.

Overall, Hicks’ testimony provided a glimpse into the turmoil within the Trump campaign following the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape and highlighted the legal battles surrounding Trump’s hush money scandal.