Former Trump adviser Hope Hicks cries during testimony as hush money trial continues | US News

A former adviser to Donald Trump broke down in tears while testifying during his criminal trial.

Hope Hicks, who served as Trump campaign press secretary, was the last witness called to testify in the second week of the historic silent trial.

His testimony gave an idea of ​​how Trump’s campaign was run while the Republican candidate was running for the White House.

She said the former president told her to deny having a sexual relationship with porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of the 2016 election.

A month before the election, an Access Hollywood video emerged about Mr Trump saying “you can do anything” while talking about grabbing women’s genitals.

Of the potential impact of the tape, Hicks said, “I think he was really worried about what the perception of it would be… I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that happened in the campaign. .”

Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business documents over secret $130,000 (£103,000) payments made to Stormy Daniels to cover up his alleged affair – he pleaded not guilty.

Hicks told jurors that he informed Trump four days before the election that the Wall Street Journal would publish details of the adult star’s story.

“He wanted to make sure there was a denial of any kind of relationship,” Hicks said, adding that Trump did not want his wife Melania to see the story, which also included allegations that he had an affair with the former Playboy model. Karen McDougal. .

Trump denied the accusations.

Prosecutors argue that the payment to Daniels subverted the election, as the news could have influenced voters as they decided on Trump or Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

However, Hicks’ testimony could help the defense make the case that Trump paid Daniels to keep his wife, not voters, from hearing the adult film star’s allegations.

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Before questioning Hicks, prosecutors asked him to describe a conversation Trump had with Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, where Cohen revealed he had paid the amount to Daniels, not the Republican candidate.

She said Trump told her the lawyer paid the bill to “protect him from a false allegation” out of “the kindness of his own heart.”

But she admitted that this act of Mr. Cohen It would have been “out of character” if he added, “I didn’t know Michael was an especially charitable or altruistic person.”

At this point, Hicks began crying on the witness stand and a brief recess was called, while Trump sat seemingly expressionless in the New York courtroom.

Earlier this week, Trump was fined $9,000 (£7,170) and held in contempt by the judge for violating a gag order – which prevents him from making public comments about jurors, witnesses and other members involved if the statements are intended to intervene. inside the case.