During testimony, Hope Hicks, a former high-ranking aide to Donald Trump, revealed the campaign’s concern about the imminent release of the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape, describing it as a crisis.
“Everyone was just sort of absorbing the shock of it,” she said. She said Trump was upset but also played down the comments. “Mr. Trump felt like this wasn’t good, but it was also just like two guys talking, locker-room talk,” she testified.
During her testimony, Hicks provided jurors with an insider perspective on the efforts to manage damage in the final days of the 2016 election, when Trump faced criticism from fellow Republicans amidst multiple allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.
Trump, who denies the allegations, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to concealing a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn star threatening to disclose their alleged 2006 encounter. Trump remained stoic as Hicks testified from the defendants’ table.
Hicks is the first former Trump staffer to testify in the 11-day trial. She began working for Trump in 2014, serving as spokesperson during his initial presidential campaign and later as communications director in the White House.
Hicks recounted her surprise when Trump announced his entry into politics and her initial disbelief when he asked her to be the campaign’s press secretary.
“One day he said, ‘We’re going to Iowa,’ and I didn’t really know why,” she testified.
She said she thought Trump was joking when he asked her to be the campaign’s press secretary. “I wasn’t sure if I should take it seriously,” she said.
Hicks attended a 2015 meeting where David Pecker promised to assist the Trump campaign by suppressing negative news stories. She noted Trump’s praise for Pecker’s support during the 2016 primaries.
Key Figures Yet to Testify
The jurors, including six alternates, have yet to hear from key figures like Stormy Daniels and Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who orchestrated the payment.
Aside from Pecker, they also heard from Daniels’ former attorney Keith Davidson, who confirmed arranging the payment with Cohen. Under cross-examination, he admitted seeking similar deals with other notable figures
The defense claims that the payment is aimed to protect Trump’s family from embarrassment rather than safeguarding his campaign.
Trump views the case as a Democratic tactic to undermine his reelection bid against Joe Biden.
Potential Impact of Verdict
Despite involving scandalous allegations, the trial is seen as less significant than other legal challenges Trump faces. However, a guilty verdict could impact his presidential ambitions, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
