Hope Hicks cries during questioning by Trump’s lawyers.
Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director, once seen as a close confidante of Donald Trump, took the stand on Friday in Trump’s highly publicized hush money trial.
Her testimony was crucial as it added weight to the prosecution’s argument that Trump’s team went to great lengths to bury negative stories during the 2016 election.
During questioning about her time working at the Trump Organization, Hicks became emotional and started crying, leading to a brief pause in the courtroom proceedings.
Earlier in the day, two other witnesses, Doug Daus, a digital forensic specialist with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and Georgia Longstreet, a paralegal with the D.A.’s office responsible for monitoring Trump’s social media accounts, both gave testimony.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who is expected to testify in the trial.
**LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER**
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 4:46 PM EDT
What happened today
Hicks, as seen in a courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
The most compelling testimony on Friday came from former Trump aide Hope Hicks. She detailed her time as Trump’s communications director during the 2016 presidential campaign, including her efforts to downplay negative stories about Trump.
Hicks discussed an email she sent to campaign staff regarding the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump bragged about being able to sexually assault women. In the email, Hicks wrote, “Deny, deny, deny,” regarding the tape’s authenticity.
She also recounted telling the Wall Street Journal that it was “absolutely, unequivocally” false that Trump had a sexual relationship with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Hicks revealed that she made that statement at Trump’s request.
However, Hicks portrayed former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid Daniels $130,000 for her silence, as a “rogue” employee. She stated that Cohen referred to himself as a fixer and that he broke things before fixing them.
As Trump’s legal team began their cross-examination of Hicks, she became emotional and started crying, prompting Judge Juan Merchan to excuse the jury and call for a brief recess.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:57 PM EDT
What Trump said as he left the courthouse
Donald Trump talks to reporters after court sessions ended for the week. (Doug Mills/Pool via AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking to reporters after leaving the courtroom during his hush money trial on Friday, Trump stated that he was unable to comment on the day’s proceedings due to a gag order.
“As you know, I am under a gag order,” he said before launching into a brief rant against the ongoing legal cases against him.
“It’s a terrible, terrible thing happening in our country,” he added. “And hopefully Nov. 5 — the most important day in the history of our country, in my opinion, that’s called Election Day — hopefully it’s going to change because these people are destroying our country.”
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:36 PM EDT
Hicks’s testimony concludes and court is adjourned
Trump watches as a video of his statement responding to the “Access Hollywood” tape is played for the jury on Friday in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
The defense wrapped up its cross-examination of Hope Hicks, and the prosecution had no further questions.
Following a brief consultation with attorneys from both sides, Judge Merchan announced that court was adjourned until Monday.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:29 PM EDT
Hicks testifies that Cohen tried to ‘insert himself’ into Trump’s campaign
During her testimony, Hicks revealed that Michael Cohen attempted to “insert himself” into Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Hicks, who served as the campaign’s spokesperson, explained that Cohen was not supposed to have an official role in the campaign and was not included in day-to-day strategic discussions.
She described him as going rogue and liking to refer to himself as a fixer or Mr. Fix It.
“He liked to call himself a fixer, or Mr. Fix It,” she added, according to CNN. “And it was only because he first broke it that he was able to then fix it.”
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:22 PM EDT
Cross-examination continues after Hicks returns to the stand
The New York Times described Hicks as “still looking fairly upset” as she returned from the break. Bove picked up his cross-examination, beginning with questions about Hicks’s relationships with the Trump family and her first job at the Trump Organization.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 3:09 PM EDT
Hicks starts to cry as cross-examination begins
When Trump attorney Emil Bove began questioning Hicks about her time at the Trump Organization, she became emotional and started to cry.
Bove requested a break, which Judge Merchan granted, and both Hicks and the prosecutors exited the courtroom briefly.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 2:48 PM EDT
Hicks says Trump told her to deny Stormy Daniels allegations
Hope Hicks testifies. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
Back on the witness stand, Hope Hicks was asked if Trump instructed her on what to say in the statement she provided to the Wall Street Journal in November 2016 regarding a story involving Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels.
In the article, Hicks is quoted as “unequivocally” denying Trump’s involvement with Daniels.
Hicks confirmed on the stand that Trump directed her to make that statement.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 2:38 PM EDT
Listen to the audio recording of Trump and Cohen discussing the hush money payment to McDougal
On Thursday, the jury heard a 2016 audio recording made secretly by Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen of Trump discussing the hush money agreements made with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model. Cohen can be heard on the tape saying, “I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,” in reference to then-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who paid McDougal $150,000 to suppress negative stories about Trump during the 2016 campaign.
The court released the audio recording on Thursday evening.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 2:20 PM EDT
Court is back in session
Following a 75-minute lunch break, the trial has resumed with Hope Hicks back on the witness stand.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 1:05 PM EDT
Lunch break
Court is in recess for lunch and will reconvene at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM EDT
Hicks recalls when she 1st heard about Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels
Hope Hicks testified that she first learned of Karen McDougal on Nov. 4, 2016, when Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Rothfeld reached out. She said she forwarded Rothfeld’s email to Jared Kushner due to his relationship with Rupert Murdoch, the owner of the Wall Street Journal.
Hicks stated that she had heard of Stormy Daniels once before Rothfeld’s email. In 2015, she overheard security on Trump’s plane sharing a story about a celebrity golf tournament and mentioned Daniels’s name.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 12:31 PM EDT
Why the jurors won’t see the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape
Prior to the trial, Judge Juan Merchan denied the prosecution’s request to admit the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape into evidence, deeming it prejudicial. However, the discussion about the tape is allowed, which is why the prosecution is now questioning Hicks about it.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 12:23 PM EDT
Hicks revisits the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape
During questioning about the “Access Hollywood” tape, Hicks recalled an email she received from then-Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold on Oct. 7, 2016.
“I was concerned. I was concerned about the contents of the email,” she explained. “I was concerned about the lack of time to respond. I was concerned we had a transcript without a tape. There was a lot at play.”
Hicks mentioned that she forwarded the email, shown to the jury, to campaign leadership, including Jason Miller, David Bossie, Kellyanne Conway, and Steve Bannon. In her forwarded email, as reported by The New York Times, she wrote, “Need to hear the tape to be sure” and “Deny, deny, deny.”
📸 Big picture: The Washington Post article made the “Access Hollywood” story public, damaging Trump’s campaign and prompting him to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 12:12 PM EDT
Trump called National Enquirer hit pieces on Ted Cruz, Ben Carson ‘Pulitzer-worthy’
Hope Hicks detailed Trump’s admiration for David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher. Pecker was the first witness called by the prosecution.
The National Enquirer published stories about Trump’s Republican rivals Dr. Ben Carson and Ted Cruz. Hicks stated that Trump praised Pecker for the “great reporting” and said, “This is Pulitzer-worthy,” according to the New York Times.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 12:06 PM EDT
Hicks praises Trump as a ‘very hard worker’
During her testimony for the prosecution, Hope Hicks spoke highly of Trump, describing him as a “very good multitasker” and “a very hard worker” who was involved in various aspects at the Trump Organization before becoming president.
She testified that everyone at the organization to some extent reported to Mr. Trump and that the company, despite its size, operated like a small family business.
Hicks also mentioned that as his campaign secretary, she would always check with him before issuing any statements to the press.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 11:55 AM EDT
Trump pays $9,000 fine for violating gag order
Earlier this week, the former president was ordered to pay a $9,000 fine by Judge Merchan for violating a gag order prohibiting him from disparaging witnesses and court staff.
The Associated Press reported that Trump paid the fine on Thursday, a day before the Friday deadline.
According to the news service, Trump’s legal team submitted two cashier’s checks, one for $2,000 and another for $7,000, to the court clerk’s office.
Merchan has yet to make a ruling on four additional alleged violations of the gag order and heard arguments from both sides on Thursday.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 11:53 AM EDT
Trump is alert while Hicks testifies
Reporters in the courtroom noticed how attentive Trump was and that his “eyes are glued” to Hicks as she testified. CNN reported that Hicks appeared to avoid making eye contact with him.
Following reports that Trump appeared to be falling asleep during the trial, the former president posted on Truth Social, stating that he does not fall asleep in court but instead, “I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!”
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 11:39 AM EDT
Hope Hicks takes the stand: ‘I’m really nervous’
Shortly after taking the witness stand, Hope Hicks admitted feeling “really nervous.”
Hicks is testifying under a subpoena and is covering the costs for her attorney. Hicks stated that she has not had any contact with Trump since 2022 and confirmed that they currently do not have a professional relationship.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 11:27 AM EDT
Prosecution calls Hope Hicks as its next witness
Hicks on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The prosecution has called Hope Hicks, Trump’s former longtime aide and ex-communications director, as its next witness.
Hicks served as Trump’s campaign press secretary in 2016 and, according to prosecutors, spoke with Trump regarding his attempts to shield the public from stories about his extramarital affairs in the weeks leading up to the election.
She held various positions in the Trump White House, including communications director, before stepping down in 2018.
Fri, May 3, 2024 at 11:25 AM EDT
Trump’s response to the infamous ‘Access Hollywood’ tape played for the jury
After a short break, the trial resumed with the prosecution presenting the jury with a tweeted video of Trump responding to the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape in which he boasted about touching women inappropriately.
In the video, Trump stated, “Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I was wrong, and I apologize.”
Just before the break, the defense agreed to a stipulation allowing a Washington Post article about the tape to be admitted without the need for a witness.
**End of transcript**
