Former White House aide Hope Hicks testified in the Manhattan criminal trial of ex-President Donald Trump, becoming emotional as she discussed her time during Trump’s 2016 election campaign and the release of the Access Hollywood tape. In her testimony, she described Trump’s strategy to deny the statements captured in the tape and highlighted his concerns over allegations of affairs with Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels. Hicks also touched on Trump’s efforts to manage public perception and his attempts to prevent damaging stories from reaching his wife, Melania.

Hicks portrayed a generally positive image of Trump, contrasting with her less favorable views on Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, and her discussions on interactions between Trump and David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, regarding the suppression of negative news articles.

The trial, presided over by Judge Juan Merchan, also involves issues relating to Trump possibly falsifying business records to conceal payments to Stormy Daniels. Notably, Trump has been fined for violating a gag order during the proceedings, with further threats of jail time for continued non-compliance.

This legal battle unfolds concurrently with renewed legal attention on Harvey Weinstein in a nearby courtroom, though legal experts have noted that the cases of Weinstein and Trump are distinctly different in terms of the legal arguments and evidence involved. The proceedings continue to reveal intricate details about Trump’s handling of controversies during his campaign and presidency.