Hope Hicks is currently being questioned about the “Access Hollywood” tape and recalls receiving an email from then-Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold on Oct. 7, 2016. She expresses concern about the contents of the email, the lack of time to respond, and the fact that there was a transcript without a tape. Hicks forwarded the email to campaign leadership, including Jason Miller, David Bossie, Kellyanne Conway, and Steve Bannon. The New York Times reported that in her email forward, she mentioned the need to hear the tape to be sure and to deny, deny, deny.
The Washington Post article revealing the “Access Hollywood” story was damaging to Trump’s campaign and had an impact on his decision to pay Stormy Daniels $130,000. This article made the scandal public and led to significant repercussions for Trump and his campaign. Hope Hicks’ involvement in forwarding the email and discussing the tape and response strategy with campaign leadership sheds light on the internal discussions and decisions made within the Trump campaign in response to the unfolding scandal.
Hicks’ testimony and the content of the email forward she sent provide insight into the mindset and actions of the Trump campaign team at the time of the “Access Hollywood” tape revelation. The strategy of deny, deny, deny was evident in the discussions within the campaign leadership, as they grappled with how to respond to the damaging story. The email exchange and subsequent decisions made by the campaign in response to the scandal demonstrate the challenges and complexities faced by political campaigns when dealing with crisis situations.
The impact of the “Access Hollywood” tape and subsequent revelations on the Trump campaign cannot be understated. The scandal had far-reaching consequences and influenced key decisions made by the campaign, including the payment to Stormy Daniels. Hope Hicks’ role in communicating and discussing the tape with campaign leadership highlights the importance of crisis management and strategic communication in political campaigns, particularly in times of adversity and controversy.
Overall, the revelations from Hicks’ testimony and the email exchange shed light on the internal workings of the Trump campaign during a critical moment in the 2016 election. The decision-making process, response strategy, and communication within the campaign team in the aftermath of the “Access Hollywood” scandal reveal the challenges and complexities faced by political campaigns in managing crises and navigating public scrutiny. Hicks’ testimony provides valuable insights into the behind-the-scenes operations of the Trump campaign and the impact of the scandal on the election.
