Trump aide Hicks refuses to answer key questions in Russia probe
Eyewitness to presidential actions since 2016, declines on advice of White House lawyers
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s longtime aide, Hope Hicks, is declining to answer questions about her time in the White House, in a closed-door interview with the House intelligence committee.
The panel is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and any contacts between Trump’s campaign and Russia. As one of Trump’s closest aides, Hicks is a key eyewitness to his actions over the past several years. She was his spokesperson during the 2016 presidential campaign and is now White House communications director.
As the interview went into the afternoon, several members of the committee said during breaks that Hicks was declining to answer any questions from her time in the White House, and the transition period between the election and the inauguration. That’s similar to others who have worked at the White House when interviewed by the committee, including former adviser Steve Bannon.
Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, another member of the panel, said Hicks and her lawyer were “following the orders of the White House not to answer certain questions.”
Another person familiar with Hicks’ testimony said her lawyer is responding to questions about that time period by saying the White House has advised her not to answer and by saying she will take some questions “under advisement.” The person declined to be identified because the committee meetings are behind closed doors.
It’s unclear whether the committee will subpoena Hicks for answers. It subpoenaed Bannon last month after he refused to answer questions, but he has yet to co-operate. The House is now considering whether to hold Bannon in contempt.
Hicks is answering questions about her time on Trump’s campaign, Republicans said.
“She’s answering everything with regard to the campaign,” said Florida Rep. Tom Rooney.
Hicks arrived shortly after 10 a.m. through a rear entrance to the committee’s interview space and did not answer questions-shouted from reporters. This is the second interview she has done as part of the congressional Russia probes — she was also interviewed by the Senate intelligence committee several months ago, according to a person familiar with that interview.
In the hours before Hicks’ arrival, Trump tweeted several times, quoting cable news commentators who said they hadn’t seen evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia. One tweet encouraged investigations of his Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. And a last tweet simply said “WITCH HUNT!”
Hicks has also been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller, according to reports, along with other White House officials. Mueller is investigating matters related to the Russian meddling and potential obstruction of an ongoing inquiry.
One area of Mueller’s interest has been the White House response to news reports of a 2016 meeting that members of Trump’s campaign team held with Russians in Trump Tower. The White House has said the president was involved in drafting an early statement saying the meeting primarily concerned a Russian adoption program, but emails released later showed that Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., enthusiastically agreed to the sit-down with a Russian lawyer and others after he was promised dirt on Clinton. Hicks was with the president on Air Force One while they were writing the initial statement.
Lawmakers were expected to ask Hicks about the statement.