Flying under the radar? Hope Hicks wears dark sunglasses inside LAX after defying subpoena from Democrats to hand over everything she knows about her time in the White House
- Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks was photographed at LAX early Thursday morning
- The 30-year-old dressed casually in dark pants, a turtleneck, and a leather jacket and appeared to be having a tense conversation over the phone at the airport
- This week she agreed to a hand over documents to Congress from her time working on Trump's presidential campaign, but not her time in the White House
- The White House instructed Hicks not to hand over anything that relates to her government service
- Hicks and former White House lawyer Annie Donaldson were issued subpoenas last month to appear before the Democratic-led House judiciary panel
- House Democrats will likely roll Hicks and Donaldson into a list of targets for contempt votes next week, prompting a court fight
Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks was photographed at LAX early Thursday morning amid reports that she has agreed to partially comply with a congressional subpoena and hand over documents from some of her time working for President Trump.
The 30-year-old, who served as a close aid to Trump both on the campaign trail and at the White House, was pictured out of hiding at the Los Angeles airport in casual attire for her early morning travel.
She wore a black coat, fitted trousers and a light gray turtleneck sweater while hiding behind a pair of dark sunglasses as she walked through the airport.
In hiding? Former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks made an appearance at LAX early Thursday morning
Trouble: Her sighting comes amid reports she was told not to testify in front of Congress by Trump's White House
On the move: Hicks (pictured) and former White House lawyer Annie Donaldson were issued subpoenas last month to appear before the Democratic-led House judiciary panel
Comfortable: She dressed casually during her airport sighting by wearing a black jacket and matching pants with a gray sweater underneath
Hicks appeared tense as she walked alone through the airport on Thursday morning and spoke to someone on her cell phone.
She was dressed in a pair of black cigarette pants and a chunky gray turtleneck sweater, which she topped with a leather jacket.
She accessorized with casuals white sneakers and a black Yves Saint Laurent, while wearing her long brunette hair in loose waves.
Though Hicks no longer works for the White House, she has found herself in the middle of a congressional investigation — and is making headlines this week after defying a subpoena to hand over any documents she had from her time working for Trump.
While she refused to hand over anything from her time in the White House or working on Trump's transitional team, however, she did agree to deliver documents from the campaign.
The former communications director served the president on the campaign trail as a political aid before moving to the White House after election. In 2017, she was promoted to communications director.
Trouble later arose for Hicks when she was called to speak to the House Intelligence Committee during a closed-door session, where she admitted to telling 'white lies' for the president. One day later, Hicks announced her intention to resign from her post at the White House.
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Intense call: She appeared to be having a tense conversation over the phone at the airport
Bad news: If Hicks refuses to follow Congress' orders to testify and release documents, she could be held in contempt and face jail time
Stressful: House Democrats will likely roll Hicks and Donaldson into a list of targets for contempt votes next week, prompting a court fight
Make like Hope Hicks in a briefcase by Saint Laurent
Hope Hicks may not be leading the fashion forecast out of Washington D.C. anymore, but we are happy to see she is now rocking a more laid back California-vibe thanks to her new role in Los Angeles.
The former White House Director of Communications opted for a stylish yet comfortable ensemble as she was seen in LAX.
Hope wore a chic single-breasted blazer over a grey knit hoodie and finished the look off with black cropped pants and box-fresh sneakers. Accessorizing with her go-to aviators and a croc-embossed work bag by Saint Laurent.
Feeling inspired to update that work bag? Then follow Hope's lead or save with one of our croc-embossed crossbody satchels down below.
In trouble: On Tuesday, Hicks' lawyer revealed she intended to release documents. But then it was reported the White House asked for her to not release any documents
Staying busy: Hicks started working for the Trump campaign in 2015 before moving into a role at the White House after the president won the election
Her resignation was made official in March 2018, and she later landed a job at Fox Corporation — the parent company to Trump's preferred network, Fox News.
But now Hicks finds herself back in the middle of Washington D.C. drama, as she and former White House lawyer Annie Donaldson were both subpoenaed on May 21 by a House judiciary panel.
The subpoena is part of Congress' inquiry into whether Trump obstructed justice during Special Counsel Rober Muller's investigation into Russia's involvement with the 2016 election.
Hicks has been asked to testify and release documents to the committee from both the time that she worked for the Trump campaign and at the time she later worked at the White House.
However, the White House has reportedly instructed the former communications director to not give House Democrats any documents during her time serving the president, claiming executive privilege.
Although her time actually at the White House could be covered by executive privilege, her time as a campaign aid before in 2015 and 2016 is likely fair game — and Hope agreed to turn over that documentation this week.
Divided: The House Judiciary has subpoenaed Hicks for documents and testimony, but the White House has instructed her to defy the demands from Democrats
Supporter: The 30-year-old joined Trump's campaign from the Trump Organization, then she followed her boss to the White House until she left for the private sector last year
Leading the charge: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler is the tip of the Democrats' spear on investigations of Trump and his inner circle, which some liberal lawmakers hope will lead to the president's impeachment and removal from office
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler of New York said Tuesday that Hicks had 'agreed to turn over some documents to the committee related to her time working for the Trump campaign, and I thank her for that show of good faith.'
The information she provides could help the committee when probing the president's finances and who he associated himself with during that time.
Nadler went on to say documents that left the White House months ago are no longer covered by privilege 'if they ever were.'
'Federal law makes clear that the documents we requested — documents that left the White House months ago — are no longer covered by executive privilege, if they ever were,' Nadler said.
He continued: 'The president has no lawful basis for preventing these witnesses from complying with our request. We will continue to seek reasonable accommodation on these and all our discovery requests and intend to press these issues when we obtain the testimony of both Ms. Hicks and Ms. Donaldson.'
Hicks was among those former White House officials who sat for interviews with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and his report includes her accounts of prominent episodes, including the PR response to news of the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Russians.
These interviews have led the House committee to also wanting to speak again with Hicks after she already appeared in front of them last year, but this time it will be with a Democratic-led judiciary panel.
The judiciary panel is likely to include Hicks and Donaldson next week in a list of current and former Trump administration officials targeted for contempt citations. Those votes threaten to provoke a court fight over the powers of the executive and legislative branches of government.
