Feb 27, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Hope Hicks dodges questions in Russia probe testimony

Haley Britzky

Hope Hicks, White House communications director and highly trusted member of the Trump team, testified behind closed doors for nine hours with the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, but declined to answer questions about the transition and her time in the White House. However, according to the New York Times, Hicks told House investigators that she is occasionally forced to tell "white lies" from her work in the administration.

Flashback: Hicks was involved in the scramble to respond to reports of a 2016 meeting between Don Jr. and a Russian lawyer, and allegedly said details of the meeting “will never get out" — a claim her lawyer has denied. She has also been in the room for other key moments that members were anxious to ask about.

Rep. Danny Heck told reporters the committee "got Bannoned," per the Daily Beast, referring to Steve Bannon's restricted testimony in which he cited executive privilege. Per CNN's Manu Raju, Hicks has not yet claimed executive privilege, but is following the White House "playbook."
Rep. Mike Quigley told Raju that "anyone who doesn't answer questions ... ought to be subpoenaed going forward."
Hicks denied seeing "evidence of collusion," per Rep. Chris Stewart told FOX.
Rep. Tom Rooney told reporters that Hicks answered some questions about the transition, CBS' Olivia Victoria Grazis reported.
Rep. Adam Schiff told Grazis that Hicks was clearly given the same instruction as Bannon was: "This is not executive privilege, this is executive stonewalling."

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Hope Hicks dodges questions in Russia probe testimony

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