Former President Donald Trump reportedly fell asleep during key moments of his hush money trial, including a “critical” segment of testimony from former White House aide Hope Hicks. Legal expert Norm Eisen, who was a special counsel during Trump’s first impeachment, told CNN that Trump appeared to be asleep while Hicks was testifying in the New York court on Friday. During her testimony, Hicks discussed Trump’s reaction to a story that broke regarding his alleged affairs with adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Hicks shared that Trump’s team was concerned about how the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, in which Trump is heard boasting about grabbing women “by the p***y,” could damage his chances in the 2016 presidential election. Hicks also spoke about Trump’s concern for his wife, Melania, in light of the allegations involving Daniels and McDougal. She testified that Trump asked her to ensure that newspapers containing the story were not delivered to their residence on the morning the news broke.
Despite Trump’s denials that he was asleep, writing on Truth Social that he only closes his “beautiful blue eyes” to “listen intensely,” reports from inside the courtroom suggest otherwise. Eisen said he observed Trump closely, noting that he appeared “immobile” during a key part of Hicks’ testimony, but “his eyes popped open” when the judge called for a break. Eisen’s observation adds to prior reports indicating Trump was seen with his eyes closed during the trial.
Trump’s legal team has not yet commented on these allegations. Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, related to hush money payments to Stormy Daniels through his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Prosecutors suggest that these payments were part of an unlawful attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election, while Trump claims the case against him is politically motivated.
Joey Jackson, a former New York state prosecutor and legal analyst, highlighted that Hicks’ testimony portrayed Trump as a hands-on leader who was aware of how damaging the “Access Hollywood” tape could be to his campaign. Jackson suggested that Hicks’ testimony could bolster the prosecution’s argument.
