The White House asserted executive privilege over any testimony Hope Hicks might be asked to give about her work in the Trump administration during her appearance before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
In response to a subpoena, the former White House director of communications agreed to answer questions in a closed-door hearing about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible obstruction by President Trump and his associates.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in a letter to Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., on Tuesday that Hicks is “absolutely immune from being compelled to testify” about her time as a senior adviser to the president and that Trump directed her not to answer questions related to this time.
Cipollone also said some questions Hicks may face about her work during the transition period after the 2016 election could be subject to executive privilege. Cipollone said a member of his office will accompany Hicks to her testimony to “preserve” the president’s ability to assert executive privilege.
As expected — the White House has written a letter that says Hope Hicks has immunity from testifying about events related to her time as a senior adviser to Trump at the White House — says the president has directed her not to answer q’s tomorrow related to that time. pic.twitter.com/Eq0c2ZUVnD
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) June 18, 2019
In announcing the hearing last week, Nadler said his committee intends to ask Hicks, whom Democrats view as a first-hand witness in its Russia investigation, about her time in the White House regardless of executive privilege.
“Ms. Hicks understands that the Committee will be free to pose questions as it sees fit, including about her time on the Trump Campaign and her time in the White House,” he said. “Should there be a privilege or other objection regarding any question, we will attempt to resolve any disagreement while reserving our right to take any and all measures in response to unfounded privilege assertions.”
Aides say a transcript of Hicks’ testimony is expected to be released within two days.
Hicks has additionally agreed to hand over documents stemming back to her time on the Trump campaign to the Judiciary panel, but complied with the White House’s demand for her to withhold records related to her work in the White House.
The Judiciary Committee is also fighting for testimony and documents from other Trump associates, including former White House counsel Don McGahn, a key witness from Mueller’s obstruction of justice inquiry.
Hicks departed the White House in March 2018, shortly after she testified to the House Intelligence Committee for its Russia investigation that she told “white lies” for Trump.
