Former Trump Aide Hope Hicks Testifies in New York Hush-Money Trial
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The third week of former President Donald Trump’s New York hush-money trial concluded with testimony from one of his former aides, Hope Hicks.
For Context: Trump is on trial in New York, where prosecutors allege he falsified business records in order to conceal hush-money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016. Daniels claims she was paid hush-money to prevent her from speaking publicly about an affair she had with Trump years prior. Trump denies having an affair with Daniels and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of fraud.
Details: Prosecutors argue that the Trump campaign paid hush-money to Daniels following the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump speaks about his fame allowing him to advance on women. The release of the tape, prosecutors argue, led the Trump team to pay Daniels and another woman, Karen McDougal, with whom Trump also allegedly had an affair.
Key Quotes: During her testimony, Hicks said the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape was a “damaging development,” adding, “There was consensus amongst us all that the tape was damaging and this was a crisis.” Hicks also testified that Trump was “responsible” for the campaign’s media strategy, stating, “He knew what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it, and we were all just following his lead.”
How the Media Covered It: Newsweek (Center bias) focused coverage around a moment in which Hicks cried. Axios (Lean Left bias) characterized Hicks as one of Trump’s “closest aides.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Hope Hicks Suddenly Breaks Into Tears at Trump TrialHope Hicks, a former top aide to ex-President Donald Trump, broke down in tears while testifying at Trump's hush-money criminal trial in New York City.
Hicks took the stand on Friday to testify about her recollections of Trump's attempt to cover up alleged affairs with adult-film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal just prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Just after Trump lawyer Emil Bove began his cross-examination by asking Hicks what her role was in The Trump Organization, Hicks became emotional and appeared to begin crying...
From the Left
"This was a crisis": Hope Hicks testifies in N.Y. criminal trial and other week three highlightsThe third week of former President Trump's New York criminal trial reached a crescendo on Friday when Hope Hicks took the stand, bringing one of Trump's onetime closest aides face to face with her former boss.
Why it matters: Hicks provided vivid details about the panic inside the Trump campaign after the "Access Hollywood" tape was made public weeks before the 2016 presidential election.
Hicks is the first member of Trump's inner circle to take the stand in his New York criminal trial.
Driving the news: Prosecutors say the release...
From the Right
Former Trump aide Hope Hicks testifies about key events in 2016Hope Hicks, a top aide to former President Donald Trump during his political rise, is testifying in her former boss’ hush money trial about key players in 2016 payoffs to women and the fallout from the “Access Hollywood” tape before the election.
Ms. Hicks admitted she was “really nervous” as she took the witness stand Friday. She testified about an urgent request from a Washington Post reporter in October 2016 seeking comment about the “Access Hollywood” audio, in which Mr. Trump speaks crudely about his stardom and touching women.
She...
AllSides Picks
May 17th, 2024
May 14th, 2024
May 14th, 2024
May 13th, 2024