Hope Hicks’ testimony in Donald Trump’s criminal case could be a “nightmare” for the defense. In the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump is accused of falsifying business records 34 times related to alleged payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep an alleged affair secret. Trump has denied these allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Hicks served as a senior advisor during Trump’s first term in the White House and was a close confidant for a long time. However, she now has no professional relationship with him and hasn’t communicated with him since the summer or fall of 2022.
Hicks recalled phone calls between Trump and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker regarding the “Access Hollywood” tape, which became a crisis during Trump’s presidential campaign. Pecker was the first witness to testify in the trial and had previously supported Trump by helping to manage the fallout from the tape’s release.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former Manhattan chief assistant district attorney, said Hicks is a powerful witness for the prosecution and that the jury will believe her. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani noted that Hicks is not like other witnesses such as Daniels and McDougal, as she has no financial motive and is not a co-conspirator. He mentioned that the defense will likely try to neutralize Hicks’ testimony, but it’s a more challenging task compared to other witnesses.
Rahmani also said that the prosecution could use Hicks’ testimony to connect the case to the 2016 elections. He mentioned that discussing the “Access Hollywood” tape could agitate Trump. According to him, Hicks’ testimony might “dirty up” Trump in the eyes of the jury.
