Former Trump Aide Hope Hicks Testifies in New York Hush-Money Trial

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.”