Trump trial: Hope Hicks faces her ex-boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Daniels payment

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

MORE: Who are the key players in Donald Trump's Manhattan hush money trial?

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

Latest Developments

_{May 3, 4:29 PM}

Trump pays fine for gag order violations

Donald Trump has paid the $9,000 he was fined for violating the limited gag order in the case, according to a court official.

Trump made the payment yesterday using two cashiers checks -- one for $2,000 and another for $7,000.

Trump on Tuesday was ordered by Judge Merchan to pay the $9,000 fine -- $1,000 for each of Trump's nine violations -- by the close of business today.

_{May 3, 4:12 PM}

Trump, departing, says he was 'very interested' in proceedings

Exiting court, Trump spoke briefly with reporters before departing the courthouse.

"I was very interested in what took place today," Trump said of the 11th day of his criminal trial.

The former president wished everyone a good weekend before departing.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano

_{May 3, 3:45 PM}

Judge won't let Trump be cross-examined over gag order

"We are going to call it a week at this time," Judge Merchan told the jury, dismissing them for the weekend.

The judge then gathered attorneys for both sides to continue the case's Sandoval hearing, begun last week, about the limit on Trump's potential testimony.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche objected to Trump being cross-examined on his gag order violations.

"Injecting into the cross-examination a finding by your honor beyond a reasonable doubt of contempt ... it puts a layer on top of the testimony," Blanche said. "It invites a sideshow that the People don't need."

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo argued that the gag order violations are relevant to Trump's credibility because if he violated the gag order, he similarly might "violate his obligation to tell the truth."

"These findings are relevant to the defendant's credibility if he chooses to testify," he said.

Issuing his ruling, Merchan denied the prosecution's request to cross-examine Trump on the gag order violations, finding that a determination from the court would be too prejudicial for the jury to overlook.

"I agree with Mr. Blanche," Merchan said, ending the week's proceedings.

_{May 3, 3:38 PM}

Hicks says Trump wanted his family to be proud of him

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks reached for a glass of water as defense attorney Emil Bove, who has slowed the pace of his questioning, returned to the topic of the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Hicks said that Trump wanted his family to be proud of him, reinforcing the defense argument that Trump was just trying to protect his family amid negative press ahead of the 2016 election.

"I don't think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed by anything that was happening on the campaign," Hicks said. "He wanted them to be proud of him."

Throughout her cross-examination, Hicks sprinkled her testimony with positive remarks about Trump.

"He likes to call and praise people for stories, even if they were not about him," Hicks said of Trump's interactions with the media. "He does a really nice job of maintaining relationships and always being willing to engage with the media."

When asked about her role in Trump's presidential campaign, Hicks responded, "I have only been on one campaign but it was a great one."

Trump, through much of this testimony, sat back in his chair, clasping his open hands over his chest.

Bove subsequently concluded his cross-examination and Hicks stepped down off the stand.

She appeared to give a side-eye glance at Trump as she left. As she walked by, Trump turned his head and watched her walk toward the exit.

_{May 3, 3:26 PM}

Cohen was a 'fixer' because 'he first broke it,' Hicks says

Defense attorney Emil Bove restarted his cross-examination of questioning longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks by asking her about her time at the Trump Organization -- following up on her earlier sentiment about the company functioning like a family business.

He asked if she met members of the Trump family, his wife and other employees.

"You felt you had his trust and respect, right?" Bove asked regarding Trump.

"Trust and respect? Yes," Hicks said.

Hicks' voice wavered during her testimony about the Trump Organization, which she recalled fondly.

"I really looked up to Rhona," Hicks said about Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime executive assistant.

Asked about then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen, she said found him something of a headache for the campaign when he circumvented their press shop.

"He went rogue, at times? Fair to say?" Bove asked.

"Yes," Hicks said.

"There were times ... he did things that were not helpful?" Bove asked.

"I used to say he would like to call himself a 'fixer,' or 'Mr. Fix-it,'" Hicks testified. "But it was only because he first broke it."

_{May 3, 3:17 PM}

Hicks returns to witness stand after break

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks returned to the courtroom after breaking down on the witness stand. Her face was red and her eyes still watery as she walked past the gallery and to her seat on the witness stand.

Trump -- who appeared to be in the middle of a conversation with his lawyers -- did not look up as Hicks re-entered the courtroom after a short break.

Both Trump and Hicks looked straight ahead as the jurors re-entered the courtroom. For a brief moment, Hicks appeared to glance toward the defense table. She did not appear to make eye contact with Trump.

"Sorry about that," Hicks said as defense attorney Emil Bove resumed his cross-examination.

_{May 3, 3:53 PM}

Hope Hicks breaks down on the stand

Donald Trump's longtime aide Hope Hicks broke down on the stand as her cross-examination was about to begin.

Hicks began crying after the prosecution's direct examination concluded.

Defense attorney Emil Bove had only just started his cross examination. "I want to talk to you about your time at the Trump Organization," Bove said before he asked for a break.

Hicks was visibly crying, looking down on the witness stand and dabbing her eyes as the jury was sent out of the room.

In her last set of responses on direct examination, she recalled a time in 2018 talking to Donald Trump about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. She testified that Trump told her Cohen made the payment on his own.

But Hicks testified she felt that would be out of character for Cohen.

"I didn't know Michael to be an especially charitable person, or selfless person," Hicks said. "(He was) the kind of person who seeks credit."

Hicks then said Trump expressed that "It would have been bad to have that story come out before the election."

Hicks left the courtroom after she broke down, and jurors were excused during the break.

_{May 3, 2:57 PM}

Hicks denies speaking to Pecker about McDougal in 2018

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks said that she never spoke to National Enquirer publisher David Pecker about Karen McDougal in March 2018, appearing to contradict Pecker's testimony last week.

Last week, Pecker testified that he spoke to Hicks and Sarah Huckabee Sanders about extending McDougal's contract in March 2018.

"I explained to them, to the two of them, that -- why I was going to extend her agreement. And both of them said that they thought that it was a good idea," Pecker said.

But asked about the same timeframe, Hicks denied ever calling Pecker.

"I have no recollection of speaking to Mr. Pecker after that interview," Hicks said, referencing McDougal's CNN interview at the time. "I did not speak to Mr. Pecker. I did speak to Mr. Trump."

Prosecutors introduced a text message where Trump's executive assistant asked Hicks to call Pecker for Trump, but Hicks could not recall a phone call with Pecker.

_{May 3, 2:59 PM}

Trump asked Hicks to keep WSJ from being delivered

When the November 2016 Wall Street Journal story about AMI's hush payment to Karen McDougal was published, Trump grew concerned with how his wife, Melania, would feel about it -- so he made a request of longtime aide Hope Hicks, according to Hicks' testimony.

"He was concerned about the story," Hicks said on the stand. "He was concerned how it would be viewed by his wife and he wanted me to make sure the newspapers weren't delivered to their residence that morning."

_{May 3, 3:00 PM}

'Keep praying,' about story, Hicks said she told Cohen

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks said that she exchanged a series of text messages with Michael Cohen after the November 2016 Wall Street Journal story on the Karen McDougal agreement was published.

"Michael asked me to call him, Michael asked me for updates," Hicks said.

"'Lots of innuendos with little fact,'" Cohen wrote to Hicks the night the story was published. "'Poorly written and I doubt see it getting much play." Hicks said "doubt" was a typo and it should have read "don't."

In ensuing text messages, Cohen and Hicks said they had not noticed substantial interest in other media outlets.

"I told him to 'keep praying,' because this was obviously the only reason why there were six stories," Hicks said with a laugh.

Click here to read the rest of the blog.