What's happened
Hope Hicks testified about the panic in Trump's 2016 campaign after the Access Hollywood tape was released, leading to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Keith Davidson testified about his text exchange with the National Enquirer editor regarding the Stormy Daniels story.
Why it matters
Hope Hicks' testimony sheds light on the chaos within the Trump campaign following the Access Hollywood tape release, highlighting the efforts to suppress negative stories. The hush money payments and Davidson's testimony reveal the lengths taken to protect Trump's image during the 2016 election, impacting public perception and legal implications.
What the papers say
Hope Hicks' testimony provides vivid details about the panic within the Trump campaign, with prosecutors aiming to show Trump's attempts to quash negative stories post-tape. Keith Davidson's testimony adds another layer, revealing the collaboration between the National Enquirer and Trump's lawyer to handle the Stormy Daniels story.
How we got here
The Access Hollywood tape, featuring Trump making inappropriate comments about women, was a significant moment in the 2016 election. The subsequent hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, orchestrated by Trump's lawyer, aimed to prevent damaging stories from surfacing during the campaign.
Common question
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Keith M. Davidson is an attorney in Beverly Hills, California. Davidson has represented clients who sought nondisclosure agreement settlements from notable individuals, including Donald Trump, Charlie Sheen, and Hulk Hogan.
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Hope Charlotte Hicks is an American public relations consultant who in February 2020 was named counselor to President Donald Trump. Hicks previously served as White House communications director from August 2017 until March 29, 2018. From January to Septe