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Former President Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial is now in its third week of proceedings.
Trump is facing 34 criminal counts related to his alleged efforts to conceal $130,000 in hush money paid in 2016 to silence allegations of an extramarital affair with adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Daniels is expected to testify in the trial, as is Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, who previously served jail time for his role in facilitating the payment.
Last week, the jury heard from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified about conversations he had with Cohen regarding the Daniels payment. He also detailed his publication’s efforts to “catch and kill” unflattering stories about Trump, including allegations by former Playboy model Karen McDougal that she had an affair with Trump from 2006 to 2007.
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Trump is represented by a team of defense attorneys led by Todd Blanche and Susan Necheles. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against Trump, selected Susan Hoffinger and Joshua Steinglass to lead the prosecution.
Judge Juan Merchan is presiding over the Manhattan trial.
Follow live updates from the trial:
Pinned
Here's What Happened On Day 11
- Hope Hicks took the witness stand nervously on Friday, holding herself together for direct examination before breaking down in tears when an attorney for Trump began cross-examination.
- Hicks had no political experience when Trump tapped her to serve as his spokesperson during his 2016 presidential run. In a baptism by fire, she helped guide his campaign through the “Access Hollywood” tape’s release and a series of Wall Street Journal stories about alleged hush money payments.
- “Obviously, I was a little shocked,” she said about seeing Trump’s “Access Hollywood” comments for the first time. But she recalled Trump saying it was “pretty standard stuff.”
- Hicks also recalled issuing denials on behalf of Trump.
- She testified that Trump was concerned about the affair stories’ effect on his family, and prevented the newspapers from being delivered to his home.
- We started the day with a forensic analyst from Bragg’s office back on the stand to talk about the data he recovered from Cohen’s phones, while the defense suggested his retrieval practices were less than trustworthy.
- The next witness was a paralegal who had the unfortunate task of reading through thousands of Trump’s social media posts and articles written about him. Jurors read through some of Trump’s rage tweets — including one in which he called Daniels "horseface.”
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Trump Complains About The Cost Of Lawyers On Way Out
Before departing from the courthouse for the week, Trump left reporters in the hall with a few semi-coherent parting thoughts.
“The radical left — they’ve been after us for years, and they’ve screwing with people’s lives,” he said, without clarifying who else he was including in the statement. “They’ve gone out and hired lawyers, they’ve been with lawyers for years, being sucked dry.”
He called the district attorney's office “vicious, vicious radical left lunatics."
"So I just want to wish everybody a very good weekend. I was very interested in what took place today," Trump said.
He added: "Our country is going to hell."
“The radical left — they’ve been after us for years, and they’ve screwing with people’s lives,” he said, without clarifying who else he was including in the statement. “They’ve gone out and hired lawyers, they’ve been with lawyers for years, being sucked dry.”
He called the district attorney's office “vicious, vicious radical left lunatics."
"So I just want to wish everybody a very good weekend. I was very interested in what took place today," Trump said.
He added: "Our country is going to hell."
Donald Trump Leaves The Courtroom
Trump just left the courtroom, trailed by his team and glancing around the room at attendees. Lawrence O'Donnell, the MSNBC host, grinned widely and stared the former president down as he left. But Trump didn't seem to notice – or at least, he wasn't willing to give O'Donnell the satisfaction.
Court Adjourned For The Week
With that detail out of the way, Judge Merchan wished both sides a good weekend.
Judge Declines To Let Prosecution Tell Jury About Trump’s Gag Order Violations
Attorneys from both sides just debated whether the prosecution should be allowed to discuss Trump’s gag order violations in this case – in front of the jury. Judge Merchan agrees with the defense: “For a jury to hear that this court, the same judge that’s presiding over this case, has found Trump in contempt” would be prejudicial for the jury, the judge says.
Jury Leaves For The Day
Judge Merchan just told the jury we’re done for the day, and read out a list of instructions for them to keep in mind over the weekend, meant to shield them from bias. He forbids them from researching or talking about the case and wishes them a good weekend.
Hope Hicks Finished As Witness
And now, the judge has called counsel to the bench. The former Trump spokesperson walked slowly but purposefully out of the courtroom.
Trump Wanted His Family ‘To Be Proud Of Him,’ Emotional Hope Hicks Says
Digging deeper on the supposed impact of the alleged affairs with Daniels and McDougal coming to light, Bove just brought up a detail from earlier today – that when the Wall Street Journal article detailing the affairs came out, Trump asked that newspapers not be delivered to residents that day. (Presumably, residents of Trump Tower.)
“Parts of this...were very personal to him?” Bove asks.
Hicks, seemingly somewhat emotional again, says yes: “I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that was happening on the campaign. He wanted them to be proud of him.”
Bove then concludes his questioning.
“Parts of this...were very personal to him?” Bove asks.
Hicks, seemingly somewhat emotional again, says yes: “I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that was happening on the campaign. He wanted them to be proud of him.”
Bove then concludes his questioning.
Trump Team Tries To Put ‘Access Hollywood’ Response In Softer Light
Bove is now questioning Hicks with an apparent aim of softening the jury’s view of Trump’s reaction to the “Access Hollywood” tape leak. Bove is emphasizing Trump’s “personal stress” at the release of the tape, and in turn, Hicks is stressing that Trump was “really concerned about what her perception of this would be.”
“I know that that was weighing on him,” she says.
“I know that that was weighing on him,” she says.
Hope Hicks Speaks Fondly Of Donald Trump’s Media Savvy, Campaign
Under questioning from Bove, Hicks recalls what she described as a habit of Trump’s: “He likes to call and praise people for stories, even if they’re not about him,” she says. “He does a really nice job of maintaining relationships ... even if he doesn’t always think the treatment he gets is fair.” It’s hard to miss the hint of fondness in her voice.
“I’ve only been on one campaign, but it was a great one,” she said.
Earlier, she affirmed that she’s here because her testimony was subpoenaed. (She also noted earlier she's paying for her own counsel.)
“I’ve only been on one campaign, but it was a great one,” she said.
Earlier, she affirmed that she’s here because her testimony was subpoenaed. (She also noted earlier she's paying for her own counsel.)
Trump Team Asks For More Detail On Hope Hicks’ Trump Org Work – And Michael Cohen
Bove is asking Hicks about her work with the Trump Organization and Trump campaign, asking about various players in Trump’s orbit, including Rhona Graff, Meredith McIver, Alan Garten and Jason Greenblatt.
Cohen “wasn’t looped in on the day-to-day strategy” of the campaign, Hicks recalls – but he did try to insert himself into the campaign, including by doing TV appearances in which he advocated for Trump. Hicks affirms that Cohen was speaking as an employee of the Trump Organization – he still worked there in 2015 and 2016, Hicks affirms – as a surrogate for the Trump campaign.
At times, in Boves’ words, Cohen “went rogue.” Hicks agrees: Cohen, she recalls, called himself “Mr. Fixer” – a reference to helping put out various fires on the campaign trail.
But, she adds, “that’s only because he broke it.”
Cohen “wasn’t looped in on the day-to-day strategy” of the campaign, Hicks recalls – but he did try to insert himself into the campaign, including by doing TV appearances in which he advocated for Trump. Hicks affirms that Cohen was speaking as an employee of the Trump Organization – he still worked there in 2015 and 2016, Hicks affirms – as a surrogate for the Trump campaign.
At times, in Boves’ words, Cohen “went rogue.” Hicks agrees: Cohen, she recalls, called himself “Mr. Fixer” – a reference to helping put out various fires on the campaign trail.
But, she adds, “that’s only because he broke it.”
Hope Hicks Broke Down In Court After Recounting A Donald Trump Lie
Hicks began to cry almost as soon as Trump attorney Emil Bove began his cross-examination of her. That bit was innocuous: Bove started by asking her (according to CNN's transcript – I didn't catch the question), "I want to talk to you about your time at the Trump Organization." At that point, Hicks turned to the side and began to cry, and an attorney asked the judge for a break, which he granted.
But Hicks' breakdown came immediately after she described Trump lying to her in detail about Cohen, supposedly out of generosity and loyalty, paying off a pornstar for her silence.
The jury is now back and Bove is questioning Hicks.
Trump, meanwhile, is looking on stone-faced.
But Hicks' breakdown came immediately after she described Trump lying to her in detail about Cohen, supposedly out of generosity and loyalty, paying off a pornstar for her silence.
The jury is now back and Bove is questioning Hicks.
Trump, meanwhile, is looking on stone-faced.
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Donald Trump Told Hope Hicks That Michael Cohen Paid Stormy Daniels Off ‘Out Of The Kindness Of His Own Heart’
Before the jury break, Hicks spoke about a Wall Street Journal story published on January 12, 2018: Trump Lawyer Arranged $130,000 Payment for Adult-Film Star’s Silence. It detailed Trump’s alleged affair with Daniels, and the alleged hush money payment to Daniels.
Hicks recalled a conversation with Trump on how to respond to the story. And afterward, she recalled, she spoke to Cohen. A White House official – Hicks recalled it was Hogan Gidley, a spokesperson – told the Journal: “These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election.”
Notably, Hicks recalled a conversation with Trump in which Trump told her, in Hicks’ words, that Trump had spoken to Cohen, and that Cohen told Trump he’d paid Daniels “to protect him from a false allegation, and that Michael felt it was his job to protect him [Trump] and that’s what he was doing, and he did it out of the kindness of his own heart.”
Upon questioning from Colangelo, Hicks said such an action “would be out of character for Michael” because “I didn’t know Michael to be an especially charitable person, or selfless person– the kind of person who seeks credit.”
Trump, she recalled, told her that “he was appreciative of the loyalty” from Cohen.
Hicks also recalled Trump wanting to know “how it was playing,” a reference to the denial.
“I think Mr. Trump’s opinion was that it was better to be dealing with it now, and that it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election,” Hicks recalled.
She specified that Trump asked about “my thoughts and opinion on this story versus having a different kind of story before the campaign.”
Hicks recalled a conversation with Trump on how to respond to the story. And afterward, she recalled, she spoke to Cohen. A White House official – Hicks recalled it was Hogan Gidley, a spokesperson – told the Journal: “These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election.”
Notably, Hicks recalled a conversation with Trump in which Trump told her, in Hicks’ words, that Trump had spoken to Cohen, and that Cohen told Trump he’d paid Daniels “to protect him from a false allegation, and that Michael felt it was his job to protect him [Trump] and that’s what he was doing, and he did it out of the kindness of his own heart.”
Upon questioning from Colangelo, Hicks said such an action “would be out of character for Michael” because “I didn’t know Michael to be an especially charitable person, or selfless person– the kind of person who seeks credit.”
Trump, she recalled, told her that “he was appreciative of the loyalty” from Cohen.
Hicks also recalled Trump wanting to know “how it was playing,” a reference to the denial.
“I think Mr. Trump’s opinion was that it was better to be dealing with it now, and that it would have been bad to have that story come out before the election,” Hicks recalled.
She specified that Trump asked about “my thoughts and opinion on this story versus having a different kind of story before the campaign.”
We Are Taking A Break After Hope Hicks Began Crying
The judge dismissed the jury.
Text Shows Trump Asked If Hope Hicks Called David Pecker
“Hey– the president wants to know if you called David Pecker again?” read a text message between Madeleine Westerhout, then the president’s executive assistant, to Hope Hicks, after McDougal filed suit to be let out of her “catch and kill” non-disclosure agreement.
After McDougal did an interview with Anderson Cooper, Hicks recalls, Hicks spoke with Trump about the interview – but she stresses that she did not speak at the time with Pecker.
After McDougal did an interview with Anderson Cooper, Hicks recalls, Hicks spoke with Trump about the interview – but she stresses that she did not speak at the time with Pecker.
Here Are Melania Trump's Alleged Texts After The Release Of The 'Access Hollywood' Tape
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to Melania Trump while she was first lady, posted what she said was a text exchange between them in the wake of the “Access Hollywood” tape’s publication. The texts say Melania Trump cancelled an interview but still wanted to meet for lunch in public, even if she might be seen.
“It’s an unconventional marriage,” Wolkoff said.
“It’s an unconventional marriage,” Wolkoff said.
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Hope Hicks Recounts Her White House Work
Colangelo is walking Hicks through her work, beginning in January 2017, in the Trump White House. She began as director of strategic communications and, a few months later, became communications director. She describes working in the outer Oval Office, steps from Trump. She and Trump spoke “every day,” Hicks recalls.
Hope Hicks: David Pecker, Donald Trump Spoke On Phone After Karen McDougal Story Broke
In texts with Cohen, Hicks asked for David Pecker’s phone number – then explained, “Mr. Trump wanted to speak to him.” Later, she confirmed to Cohen that Trump and Pecker had in fact spoken: “All good,” she wrote.
Asked by Colangelo, Hicks explains how Trump was concerned about the article’s potential affect on his campaign – and his wife Melania’s reaction to the story.
Asked by Colangelo, Hicks explains how Trump was concerned about the article’s potential affect on his campaign – and his wife Melania’s reaction to the story.
Texts Between Michael Cohen, Hope Hicks Show Them Monitoring Fallout Of Karen McDougal Story
Colangelo walks Hicks through her texts with Cohen around the time the Journal story was published. In one of them, Hicks sent the story to Cohen. “Lots of innuendos with little fact,” Cohen wrote to Hicks
“I dot [sic] see it getting much play,” Cohen told Hicks – prompting her to laugh while reading it out loud in court at the irony of how much coverage it ultimately received.
“So far I see only 6 stories,” Cohen wrote to Hicks. “Getting little to no traction.”
Hicks wrote to Cohen: "Keep praying!! It’s working!”
Cohen then says that if needed, “I have statement by Storm denying everything and contradicting the other porn stars statement.”
At the time, Hicks recalls, she didn't have the "context" necessary to understand what Cohen meant when he said he had a "statement" from Daniels.
“I dot [sic] see it getting much play,” Cohen told Hicks – prompting her to laugh while reading it out loud in court at the irony of how much coverage it ultimately received.
“So far I see only 6 stories,” Cohen wrote to Hicks. “Getting little to no traction.”
Hicks wrote to Cohen: "Keep praying!! It’s working!”
Cohen then says that if needed, “I have statement by Storm denying everything and contradicting the other porn stars statement.”
At the time, Hicks recalls, she didn't have the "context" necessary to understand what Cohen meant when he said he had a "statement" from Daniels.
Hope Hicks Recounts Denials Of Affair To Newspaper
Colangelo is continuing to ask Hicks about the Wall Street Journal article detailing AMI's purchase and subsequent non-publishing of Trump’s alleged affair with McDougal. The article includes a statement from Hicks that any claims of an affair were “totally untrue.” Hicks says she can’t remember specifically what Trump said, or told her to say. To refresh her memory, Colangelo brings up grand jury testimony. But, asked if the grand jury testimony reflected her memory, Hicks says “no,” Colangelo tries again, prompting her to look at specific lines.
“I see what I said, I’m not saying it didn’t happen,” Hicks says. She recalls Trump stating the denial, but says she doesn't want to say “definitively” that Trump instructed her to say something specific.
The same article discusses Daniels' claim of an affair with Trump. This time, Hicks is unequivocal: Trump told her to deny the affair.
“I see what I said, I’m not saying it didn’t happen,” Hicks says. She recalls Trump stating the denial, but says she doesn't want to say “definitively” that Trump instructed her to say something specific.
The same article discusses Daniels' claim of an affair with Trump. This time, Hicks is unequivocal: Trump told her to deny the affair.
Hope Hicks Is Back On The Witness Stand
Hicks, looking serious and somewhat nervous, with hands clenched, just reentered the courtroom.
Trump Reenters Courtroom As Trial Resumes For The Afternoon
The former president is back after a lunch break, wearing a trademark grimace, strolling into the courtroom trailed by a team of aides and lawyers.
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