'Hurt Trump the most': Expert expects 'emotional reaction' when Hope Hicks takes stand

Of all the witnesses set to parade into the Manhattan criminal court to help the prosecutor's case against Donald Trump, an expert thinks the one that could deliver the most devastating blow is Hope Hicks.

New York Magazine's Washington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi appeared on CNN Thursday night to discuss the sweet spot former President Donald Trump has when it comes to Hicks.

"I think that of all of the witnesses that the prosecution will bring in this trial, Hope Hicks will probably hurt Donald Trump the most," Nuzzi said.

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She believes that when Hicks testifies, the former president won't be able to restrain himself.

"I think she's the only witness who might actually get some sort of emotional reaction from Trump sitting there in that courtroom," Nuzzi said.

The reason is Hicks was Trump's figurative shadow during his early White House tenure, she said.

"She was around all the time when I started covering Donald Trump in 2015," said Nuzzi. "I've known her long time. A lot of members of the press have known her a long time."

Hicks is also been blessed with an incredible ability to remember things, the reporter said.

Nuzzi noted, "She is a very reasonable person, a very intelligent person; she has a photographic memory, nearly andI think that a jury will find her extremely credible."

Hicks, who served as Trump's White House Communications Director and Director of Strategic Communications, came up during David Pecker's testimony on Thursday.

The National Enquirer honcho recounted a conference call former President Donald Trump set up between Pecker and White House aides, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Hope Hicks.

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It was prompted by ex-Playboy playmate Karen McDougal sitting down for a televised interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper.

On the call, Pecker discussed expanding an agreement with McDougal to keep her from discussing further her alleged 10-month love affair with Trump.

“They thought that it was a good idea,” Pecker said of Hicks and Sanders.

McDougal later brought a lawsuit to free herself from the non-disclosure agreement with American Media Inc. and Pecker settled, according to his testimony.

“We settled and I returned her lifetime rights,” Pecker said.

Nuzzi found it "stunning" to hear Pecker discuss in particular an Oval Office meeting involving "taxpayer-funded officials" like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump's Press Secretary and is now the governor of Arkansas, and Hicks and how they "were involved in covering up these hush money payments."

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