Hope Hicks reportedly told Congress her email had been hacked

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published 8 March 2018

A day before announcing her resignation as White House communications director, Hope Hicks told the House Intelligence Committee that she no longer had access to two of her email accounts and that one of them had been hacked, NBC News reports, citing people who were present for her testimony. "Under relatively routine questioning from Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) about her correspondence, Hicks indicated that she could no longer access two accounts: one she used as a member of President Donald Trump's campaign team and the other a personal account," NBC News says.

It is unclear which account was purportedly hacked — her personal or campaign account — when it was hacked, or whether she used either account for White House business. House members apparently did not follow up to ask about the accounts, and they had little leverage anyway, since Hicks was testifying voluntarily. "It is standard practice for lawmakers to ask witnesses about phone numbers and email accounts," NBC News says. "But it is uncommon, according to people familiar with the committee process, for a witness to tell lawmakers that he or she no longer has access to past accounts." Special Counsel Robert Mueller is apparently interested in the correspondence of Trump campaign personnel, and Hicks was one of the aides closest to Trump on the campaign and in the White House.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.