Hope Hicks Testifies in Hush Money Trial: Key Takeaways
Hope Hicks Testifies in Hush Money Trial: Key Takeaways
Former US President Donald Trump’s ex-campaign press secretary and communications director, Hope Hicks, recently took the stand in the ongoing hush money trial. Her testimony provided valuable insights into the fallout from the damaging Access Hollywood tapes and how Trump’s White House dealt with the stories surrounding the hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.
The Access Hollywood Tapes
During the trial, Hicks revealed that she was working as the press secretary for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign when the highly controversial Access Hollywood tapes were leaked. Dealing with the fallout from this revelation was described by Hicks as an “intense ordeal.” The tapes featured Trump making inappropriate comments about groping women, stating, “When you’re a star, they let you do it, you can do anything.”
Hicks testified that she first learned about the tape when a reporter emailed her for a comment. She expressed concern about the contents of the email, the lack of time to respond, and the fact that there was a transcript without a tape. Hicks eventually forwarded the email to Trump’s staffers, including Kellyanne Conway, with the note “1) need to hear the tape, to be sure. Deny, deny, deny.”
When Hicks informed Trump about the tapes, he initially denied saying anything of that nature. However, after watching the tape, Trump was visibly upset and expressed that he didn’t want to offend anyone. Hicks suggested that Trump viewed his comments as typical banter between men.
Hicks Suggests Trump’s Involvement in Stormy Daniels Saga
Regarding the hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, Hicks cast doubt on the claim that Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, acted out of selflessness. She stated that she didn’t know Cohen to be an especially selfless person and that he was more inclined to seek credit for his actions. Hicks further discredited the Trump team’s contention that Cohen orchestrated the entire hush-money scheme without Trump’s involvement, suggesting that the former president had direct knowledge of the scheme.
The “Melania Defense”
Hicks mentioned that Trump was more concerned about how the stories would be viewed by his wife, Melania, than their impact on his presidential campaign. This aligns with Trump’s legal team’s argument that the catch-and-kill scheme to buy Daniels’ story happened because Trump found it embarrassing for himself and Melania. Hicks supported this chain of arguments during her testimony.
Hicks Helps Trump Distance Himself from Cohen
During her testimony, Hicks revealed that she advised Trump to maintain distance from Cohen. She described Cohen as having juvenile tendencies and frequently inserting himself into Trump’s 2016 campaign without being asked. Hicks also mentioned that Cohen often acted unilaterally, causing additional issues. This testimony aimed to portray Trump as separate from Cohen’s actions.
Trump Faces Gag-Order Ruling
After Hicks’ testimony concluded, Justice Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for violating a gag order that prohibited attacks on trial participants. The court also warned Trump that continued violations could result in a jail sentence. Prosecutors presented four more incidents during the hearing and labeled Trump’s statements as “corrosive.” Justice Merchan is yet to rule on these recent allegations.
In conclusion, Hope Hicks’ testimony provided valuable insights into the Access Hollywood tapes, the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, Trump’s concerns regarding Melania’s reaction, his distancing from Cohen, and the potential consequences of violating a gag order. These revelations shed light on the intricacies of Trump’s presidency and the ongoing hush money trial.
