Hope Hicks, who has apparently been directing communications inside the Trump-stained White House, is resigning. CNN calls her "one of President Trump's longest-serving and closest aides."
The resignation was announced by press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders Wednesday, Politicoreports. Just one day earlier, Hicks copped to lying on Trump's behalf. Hicks admitted to these so-called "white lies" during a nine-hour closed-door testimony related to the Russian election interference investigation Tuesday.
Maggie Haberman of the New York Times reports that despite the suspicious timing, Hicks's exit is not a result of the hearing. She had reportedly been planning to resign for "several months" and had "told colleagues that she had accomplished what she felt she could with a job that made her one of the most powerful people in Washington."
Hope Hicks departure is NOT about yesterday's hearing, per multiple sources. She had planned it before, had been thinking about it for months. She had informed a very small number of people prior to Hill hearing that she planned to leave.
Prior to her White House role, Hicks served as a communications director and press secretary for the failed steak salesman's presidential campaign. Prior to that, she had no experience in politics and had worked as a model and for Ivanka Trump's fashion label. Her next role is still unknown.
Hicks was reportedly dating Rob Porter, the former White House Staff Secretary, who resigned after two of his former wives publicly denounced him for abusing them emotionally and physically. Porter's domestic abuse became a political scandal when the FBI revealed they knew about his abuse and alerted the White House, but Trump administration officials lied about when they knew of his abuse. Porter's job required a high level of security clearance that the FBI did not feel comfortable granting him, and questions are still left unanswered about how he did his job without the necessary clearance. Hicks was reportedly responsible for the White House's initial response to Porter's domestic violence, which included Chief of Staff John Kelly going out of his way to call Porter a man of "true integrity and honor."
According to Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury, Hicks also dated Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager who was fired after being charged with battery after grabbing a female reporter when she tried to ask Trump a question.
"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump," Hicks said in a statement. "I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,” Trump said. “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”
According to a count by Business Insider, Hicks's departure makes her the 17th person to resign or be fired from the White House during Trump's administration.
