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Live coverage: Trump trial resumes with former adviser Hope Hicks taking the stand

by Mark Sumner for Daily Kos Liveblogs

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Friday, May. 03, 2024 Friday, May. 03, 2024 at 8:39:33am PDT

FILE - Hope Hicks, former White House Communications Director, arrives to meet with the House Intelligence Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 27, 2018. Prosecutors say Hicks spoke with former President Donald Trump by phone during a frenzied effort to keep allegations of his marital infidelity out of the press after the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape leaked weeks before the 2016 election. In the tape, from 2005, Trump boasted about grabbing women without permission. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) — Hope Hicks, Trump's former White House communications director, is called to testify in Trump's trial.

On Thursday, during Donald Trump’s trial for 34 counts of falsifying business records, much of the day’s testimony day was taken up with Trump defense attorney Emil Bove’s cross-examination of entertainment lawyer Keith Davidson.

Bove drew out names of others involved with Davidson’s clients, from Lindsay Lohan to Hulk Hogan, to make it seem that the entertainment lawyer had been running a hub for scams in which his clients set out to entrap celebrities. Unsurprisingly, the back-and-forth between Davidson and Bove became contentious.

Then, during redirect, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass played an audio recording of a conversation between Davidson and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. That conversation made it seem that Trump was a party to the negotiations over how to handle Stormy Daniels.

That was confirmed when the next witness, forensic analyst Douglas Daus, testified about how he was able to pull information from two of Cohen’s phones. Following this testimony, the jury heard a conversation between Trump and Cohen in which Trump talked about the amount Daniels would be paid and expressed a desire to get the matter resolved quickly.

That tape was extremely damaging to any idea that Trump was unaware or uninvolved in handling Daniel’s claims. Which is why Bove spent the end of the day on Thursday trying to plant doubt about law enforcement’s handling of Cohen’s phones and the authenticity of the recording. That cross-examination resumed Friday morning with Daus on the stand.

Just before noon on Friday, former Trump adviser Hope Hicks, who served as his press secretary during the 2016 campaign and then as White House communications director, was called to the stand.

“Several members of the public in the overflow room gasped when her name was announced,” Kate Christobek of The New York Times reported.

Everything here is true.

Why Hicks is such a devastating witness against Trump: 1. Hicks makes clear Trump knew of the Cohen payoff scheme to Daniels.
2. Even if you believe his statement to her that he only learned after the fact.
3. Her testimony sinks Trump's defense since he is on record in a civil…
— Andrew Weissmann (weissmann11 on Threads)🌻 (@AWeissmann_) May 3, 2024

However, Hicks also upsets the carefully laid steps by which the prosecution had established that Trump’s actions were all about the campaign, and not concerned with protecting his personal reputation. She also goes beyond other witnesses, who had painted Cohen as irritating and anxious, to suggest that he had “gone rogue” and was acting on his own.

Ultimately, a lot of proving that Trump committed the felonies he is charged with may well come down to Trump’s word vs. Cohen’s and Hicks did not make picking a side in that lie v. lie any easier. What her sometimes emotional testimony left with the jury, I can’t say.

Anyway, I hope that Weissmann is the wiser man in this evaluation and that I’m simply wrong.

What’s the one best thing that Hicks gave to prosecutors? Probably this: "I’d say that would be out of character for Michael.”

That was Hicks’ response when asked about Trump telling her that Cohen had paid Daniels out of the goodness of his heart. It may not sound like it, but that’s Hicks’ way of saying that she thought Trump was lying to her.

Back on Monday with all new witnesses and another week of Trump “resting his eyes.”

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:45:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN’s final report on nods, nose scratches, and arm positions.

Donald Trump turned and nodded to Hope Hicks with a small smile when she passed the defense table.

On the other hand, Maggie Habberman says Trump “looks very unhappy as he departs the courtroom, and his lawyer Todd Blanche is not smiling.”

They’re probably about to go out and scold New York for causing such emotion strain on dear Hope, who Trump loves like a daughter. But not in he sense that he wants to date her.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:42:25 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Prosecutors were seeking the right to confront Trump about his gag order violations if he chose to testify. Trump’s lead attorney Todd Blanche argued this wasn’t necessary. Colangelo responded that precedent in such cases was on the side of the prosecution.

Then, as a final token of just how well Colangelo’s day is going…

Judge: "I agree with Mr. Blanche."

He DENIES the prosecution's application here, finding that telling the jury that the judge in this case found him in contempt would be too prejudicial.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:39:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

We’re not going to intro a new witness in the closing moments, so it will be Mystery Guest time on Monday morning.

Justice Merchan to the jurors:

"We're going to call it a week."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

Jurors file out. Attorneys attend some end of day business.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:36:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Can the prosecution play that recording of Trump and Cohen talking over how to handle Stormy Daniels again? Because at this point, the jury definitely needs some kind of reminder.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:35:16 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

And that’s it. Surprisingly, Hicks finishes before the clock.

Hicks is done testifying.
— erica orden (@eorden) May 3, 2024

Trump has to be all smiles after that last sequence. Assuming he didn’t sleep through it.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:33:43 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Why wait for closing remarks when you can bring the story up again today and remind the jurors that Trump was just worried about his wife … finding out that he had an extended affair with a Playboy model while she was pregnant?

BOVE: You mentioned that Pres. Trump didnt want papers taken to residence and this was hitting home in a real way and there were parts of this that were very very personal?
HICKS: Trump didn’t want his family to be embarrassed by anything that happened during the campaign, “He…
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:31:17 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks is so, so eager to give Bove — and Trump — responses they can use.

Bove turns to her conversations with Trump.

Q: You were working that day in your official capacity, right?
A: Yes.

Q: And he was there trying to be President of the United States, right?
A: Yes.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:28:56 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Until this very moment, Hicks has consistently referred to Trump as "Mr. Trump."

But now that Bove keeps referring to him as "President Trump," Hicks has followed suit.

She's now referring to him as "President Trump." She's takes a proud tone. And she speaks warmly of him.
— Jose Pagliery (@Jose_Pagliery) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:26:04 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Whoo boy. Bove is extracting from Hicks a description of Cohen that is not just the general ‘That guy? What an a-hole.’ that has come from almost everyone who met Trump’s former attorney, but a series of responses that deeply undercut the prosecution’s position that Cohen was doing everything at the direction of Trump.

Jonathan Swan at The New York Times.

Emil Bove builds on this theme, getting Hope Hicks to agree that Michael Cohen “went rogue” and did things that were “unauthorized.” These answers are largely helpful to the defense’s efforts to build a case that Cohen could have arranged the hush money without Trump’s direct orders.

Another quote for closing remarks

“He liked to call himself a fixer, or Mr. Fix-it, and it was only because he first broke it.”

It’s hard to see that Hicks gave the prosecution anything that isn’t directly nullified by these responses.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:20:47 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Bove asks Hicks a series of questions about her relationship with Trump and with others in the Trump Organization. “Trust and respect” is the phrase that keeps getting repeated.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:18:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

I have no idea how any of this is going to play.

Per our amazing @adamreisstv who is inside, it seems that Hicks got emotional at the moment Bove started to ask her about the fact that Trump family gave her an opportunity to work and she was so excited about that opportunity.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:16:13 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks’ moment of emotion may be a carryover from the last minutes of her questioning about Cohen. In any case, a few minutes earlier she was reportedly looking directly at the jury and speaking to them, she’s likely getting a lot of sympathy from the folks on that side of the box.

We're back.

Bove (empathetically): "If you need a minute, just let me know."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:13:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The trial took a brief break after Hicks seemed to become very emotional early in Bove’s questioning about her time with the Trump Organization.

She’s back on the stand again. Unclear why she is getting upset at this point, but she may be anticipating Bove will call her out on some point.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:12:00 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

"The person I saw is totally credible even if the story she is not telling is the one that some folks anticipated."

WATCH: @lawofruby describes longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks' testimony from inside the court room. pic.twitter.com/LQroVdUYXO
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:10:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Unexpectedly, the direct examination of Hicks is now over.

Emil Bove is up to do the cross.

It certainly seems that there is more that the prosecution might have obtained from this witness. Hicks’ testimony has been interesting mostly just because it’s Hicks, but it’s hard to think of much which has been all that damaging to Trump other than the assertions that he was highly aware of communication and involved in day-to-day events.

If the prosecution means to take that example and extend it to Trump’s dealings with Cohen, they might consider that Trump could be much more eager to loom over Hicks’ desk than to engage with Cohen.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:06:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

The court recesses at 3:45 PM ET today, so we are getting into the final moments jurors will be left to remember over the weekend.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 7:02:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Set up…

Hicks recounts a conversation with Trump where the then-president said "that Michael had paid (sigh) this woman to protect him from a false allegation."

Trump told her Cohen did so "from the kindness of his own heart and that he didn't tell anyone that it happened," she says.…
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

Punchline.

Hicks says that'd be "out of character for Michael."

"I didn't know Michael to be an especially charitable person or selfless person. [He's the] kind of person that seeks credit."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

It wouldn’t be a real day of trial without a few reminders that Cohen is a jackass, and we’ve had several.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:59:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Less than an hour remaining in the trial day. It seems likely Hicks will return to the stand on Monday.

Jonah Bromwich:

It's a Friday afternoon and there’s less than an hour to go but the jury seems riveted. We’ve had a really remarkable day of testimony, most of it from Hope Hicks.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:50:11 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Jonah Bromwich at The New York Times notes that while Hicks did follow up with a statement that everything going at the time was a concern to the campaign, that response about Trump being worried about what Melainia might see could be part of the defense’s closing argument.

Because being concerned that your wife might see reporting about your affair with a Playboy model is somehow exonerating.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:47:11 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

This statement from Hicks is the first time the prosecution failed to elicit an “it was all about the campaign” response to anything breaking in the news.

Hicks is really helping Trump. She testified of McDougal story that Trump was “concerned how it would be viewed by his wife.” And she said Trump asked her to make sure newspapers weren’t delivered to their residence that morning.
— erica orden (@eorden) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:45:09 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks denied “unequivocally” that Trump had a relationship with Stormy Daniels. She says this is what she was told.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:40:45 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks is presented with a series of text messages she exchanged with Cohen after the Wall Street Journal reported on parts of the Karen McDougal story.

Inspecting the next three messages, Hicks laughs at Cohen's appraisal of the WSJ article: "Poorly written and I do[n']t see it getting much play."

She remarks on the irony. pic.twitter.com/aB7O5bNSNr
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:32:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

News.

Trump's eyes are open.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:30:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN seems to have become body language central. They report that Hicks was “wringing her hands” as she described being in a car with Trump and Reince Priebus while Trump was talking to Cohen.

That certainly makes it seem that Priebus might also get a chance to describe this call.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:27:40 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Over lunch, police dealt with what was probably the most serious protest at the Trump trial so far. In this case, fewer than a dozen anti-Trump protestors blocked a neighboring road.

MAGA Nation hasn’t responded to Trump’s loud hints that they should swarm Manhattan.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:24:08 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo has resumed questioning Hicks, asking about events shortly after the Wall Street Journal article.

Q: Around this time, on Nov. 4, did you witness any phone conversations between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen?
A: Um. (pause) I believe I saw Mr. Trump speaking to Mr. Cohen shortly after the story was published.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 6:19:47 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Trump is back at the table, Hicks is headed back to the stand. Trial should resume shortly.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 5:01:12 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks has just started to answer a series of questions about how Trump handled the story of Karen McDougal. In addition to emailing Cohen, she and Trump directly called Pecker.

But now it’s time for a lunch break.

Exhibit:

Michael Cohen's email to Hope Hicks on Nov. 4, 2016, with a draft response to the WSJ inquiry vis a vis McDougal.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

More from Hicks when everyone comes back at 2:15 ET.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:57:58 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Wait a second, CNN, what happened to “growing more agitated” Trump?

Trump is less engaged with Hope Hicks' testimony now as she gets into the Karen McDougal questions, sitting back in his chair with his eyes closed.

That idea that guilty people sleep in police holding cells while the innocent sit around being nervous is actually BS. And nothing seems to explain Trump’s behavior.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:53:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo stops Hicks and asks her not to detail the contents of this other tape. Allowing jurors to hear a series of unconfirmed claims or speculations is something the defense might use in an appeal.

Hicks is testifying that after the Access Hollywood tape she spoke to Cohen by phone about another rumored tape and she said she asked him to call a friend of his, ask if there was in fact a tape, and if so, when could they expect it to be published.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:49:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

That golf tournament is reportedly where Daniels and Trump first met, and immediately proceeded the events that Daniels described to InTouch in 2018.

It all started at the American Century celebrity golf tournament in July 2006. “[Trump] was introduced to everybody. He kept looking at me and then we ended up riding to another hole on the same golf cart together,” Stormy recalled, adding that the business mogul later came to the gift lounge her adult-film company, Wicked Pictures, sponsored and asked for her number, which she gave him, before they posed for a photo together.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:45:40 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

A couple of back-to-back questions as Colangelo prepares to move to the main event.

Hicks recalls learning about Stormy Daniels during one of Trump's celebrity golf tournaments.

Daniels was there with one of the other participants, Hicks says.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:43:43 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Much of the questioning of Hicks has come down to how much a role Trump played in day-to-day operations. And the answer always comes back the same.

This might be the first time that a Trump adviser has testified *under oath in court* that Trump controlled every word he tweeted back in 2016.

Sure, we all generally know it. But Hicks just testified that Trump wrote everything or reviewed/authorized what Dan Scavino wrote.
— Jose Pagliery (@Jose_Pagliery) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:41:31 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

As Jonathan Swan at The New York Times notes, Colangelo asked Hicks about reactions from a list of Republicans who criticized Trump following the release of the “Access Hollywood” video. But that was then…

It’s impossible to imagine the same thing happening today. Nearly all Republicans who were willing to publicly criticize Trump back then have either retired or been defeated in primaries by pro-Trump challengers.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:37:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN says that Trump has been increasingly “agitated” during Hicks’ testimony, whispering with Blanche and exchanging notes with his attorneys.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:33:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Prosecutor Colangelo asks a line of questions about the GOP's response to the tape, and the defense responds with a string of objections.

The parties debate the matter further at sidebar: Sustained.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

Merchan sustains the objections.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:28:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

How much worse is it if he really feels this way?

When the conversation turned to how they were going to respond, Mr. Trump felt like it was not a big deal, “not anything to get so upset over,” “pretty standard stuff for two guys.”
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:27:23 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

This is a not so subtle calling out of Trump’s strategy in this trial.

The prosecutor notes that the video contrasted what Trump played down as his words as opposed to other people's actions.

Hicks agrees with that characterization.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:24:55 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

This has to be a proud moment for Hicks, as she reads the official campaign response that would set the tone for every Trump voter who chose to ignore this disqualifying information.

"This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course – not even close. I apologize if anyone was offended.”

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:20:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

You like to think there was wailing. Gnashing of teeth. Rending of garments.

Hicks described the Access Hollywood tape as a “damaging development.”

“I think there was consensus amongst us all that the tape was damaging and this was a crisis,” she said.
— erica orden (@eorden) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:18:44 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks got the pleasure of breaking news of the video to Trump.

Hicks: I motioned for Jason (Miller) and for a couple people to come out to speak with me so as not to disrupt the debate prep, but the sight of the 5 or 6 of us out there was a sign something was afoot and so Trump asked us to come into the conference room and share what we were…
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:15:42 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Maggie Habberman on what was in the email Hicks sent to other members of the campaign.

In it, she says: “Need to hear the tape to be sure,” and “Deny, deny, deny.” She describes it to Matthew Colangelo, the prosecutor, as a “reflex.”

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:13:36 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

As Hicks begins to answer questions about the “Access Hollywood” recording, the prosecution has a transcript up on a screen where everyone can follow along. The email Hicks is talking about here is from Washington Post reporter David Farenthold who was asking for a reaction to the video.

COLENGELO: Your first reaction?
HICKS: I was very concerned…I was concerned about the contents of the email, the lack of time to respond...
HICKS: I sent it to other campaign leadership like Jason Miller, David Bossie, Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:10:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks is asked a series of question about former National Enquirer published David Pecker.

Q: Do you know someone named David Pecker?
A: Yes.

Q: How do you know Mr. Pecker?

Hicks says she was first introduced to the AMI chief at a previous job. She was then reintroduced to him as a "friend of Mr. Trump."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

In a series of questions, Hicks says that she was present for some phone calls between Trump and Pecker, including a call to discuss a series of stories the National Enquirer had run to demean 2016 Republican candidate Ben Carson. that painted him as “Ben the butcher” over claims of incompetent surgery.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:06:33 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Reports say that Hicks seems to be growing more comfortable on the stand and speaking more clearly, but here’s a skill that Donald Trump likely appreciates about Hicks.

She's been on the witness stand now for just about 20 minutes, and this entire time her eyes are locked on the prosecutor asking questions, Matt Colangelo.

She doesn't turn away for a split second. Even when she takes a sip of water, she stays focused on him and him alone.
— Jose Pagliery (@Jose_Pagliery) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:04:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks is apparently not pleased to be asked about the “Access Hollywood” video.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 4:03:22 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

It definitely seems as if Colangelo is spending a lot of time laying the groundwork before he pulls out an absolutely damning document or recording.

Hicks is asked to confirm that she sent & received emails and texts and made phone calls for the campaign and identifies her email address and last four digits of her phone.
— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:56:41 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

As Jonah Bromwich at The New York Times notes, Colangelo keeps coming back to the idea that Trump was in charge of every aspect of Hick’s work and aware of all communications.

“I reported to Mr. Trump” and “Mr. Trump was responsible” are two things she’s just said. Again, this is key for prosecutors, showing that Trump is a hands-on manager — and hoping to convince the jury he would have taken the same hands-on approach as Michael Cohen brought him news of negative stories to quash.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:54:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Colangelo establishes that Hicks and Trump talked “every day.”

Now, Hope Hicks dents the notion that Trump was out of the loop of anything in terms of public communication:

"He knew what he wanted to say and how we wanted to say it. We were always following his lead."
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:51:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN says Trump and attorney Todd Blanche are exchanging whispers during Hick’s testimony. Apparently, her presence in the courtroom is enough to keep Trump awake.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:49:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks is slowly recalling how she came into Trump's orbit, landing a job at the Trump Organization as its communications director and how it slowly morphed into doing the same thing for his 2016 presidential campaign.
— Jose Pagliery (@Jose_Pagliery) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:48:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo is questioning Hicks, rather than Joshua Steinglass, who has handled prosecution questioning through the last week. Colangelo, who also delivered the state’s opening statement, is noted to have a more gentle demeanor with witnesses. The prosecution may be trying to avoid any sense that it is bullying Hicks.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:45:30 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

A lot of updates continue to note that Hicks is speaking very quietly, sometimes barely above a whisper, and appears to be as nervous as she says she is.

Q: Are you familiar with someone named Michael Cohen?
A: (softly) Yes.
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 3, 2024

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:43:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks isn’t counting on Trump to protect her.

And tellingly, she is paying for her own lawyer.
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) May 3, 2024

Which is a very wise move.

UPDATE: Friday, May 3, 2024 · 3:42:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Hicks opens by saying that she’s “very nervous.” In response to opening questions, she explains her role and how the Trump Organization was “run like a small family business in certain ways.”

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