Extra: In Trump Trial Hope Hicks Recounts Access Hollywood Crisis and Call to Pecker

More on X for Subscribers here and below the paywall / subscribe (support) line here

by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack

100 CENTRE ST COURT, 5/2 – On Friday in the Trump trial, former press secretary Hope Hicks took the stand, under subpoena.

 She had gone from publicizing Ivanka Trump's personal brand to fielding emails seeking comment on the Access Hollywood tape to the catch-and-kill journalism of the National Enquirer's David Pecker. 

  Like Pecker, she offered praise to Trump, describing relationships of his as "respectful" and praising his media savvy.

   As Trump's best cross-examiner (so far) Emil Bove slipping into the lead counsel's seat, one wondered how this cross examination might go.

 The prosecution, though, must have liked that she described Trump as running everything, and everyone reporting to him. 

  Earlier in the trial, this appears to have been their point in introducing into evidence a document showing him managing his own Winged Foot golf course renewals.

Also earlier on Friday, Justice Merchan made a point of countering the argument that if Trump does not testify, his gag order is to blame.

 More on X for Subscribers here and below the paywall / subscribe (support) line here