White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, who completed nine hours of testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday about her work on the Trump campaign, will reportedly resign from her position. She was promoted to the position last summer.
The New York Times has the scoop:
Ms. Hicks had been considering leaving for several months. She 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, and that there would never be a perfect moment to leave, according to White House aides.
She did not say what her next job would be, and her departure date was unclear, but it is likely to be in the next few weeks
"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump. I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country," Hicks said in a statement released by the White House Wednesday.
The resignation comes two weeks after Hicks' boyfriend, former White House advisor Rob Porter, was abruptly fired after revelations of alleged domestic violence against two previous wives hit the press.
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. 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,” President Trump released in a statement.
Hicks also received praise from Chief of Staff John Kelly.
"When I became Chief of Staff, I quickly realized what so many have learned about Hope – she is strategic, poised and wise beyond her years. She became a trusted adviser and counselor and did a tremendous job overseeing the communications for the President’s agenda including the passage of historic tax reform. She has served her country with great distinction. To say that she will be missed, is an understatement," he said.
Hicks has worked for the Trump family for nearly a decade and served as a public relations expert for Ivanka Trump's clothing company before joining the presidential campaign in 2015.
WH says the exact departure date for Hope Hicks is to be determined - but will be sometime in the next few weeks.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 28, 2018
Hope Hicks now joins a long list of senior WH officials in the Trump WH to call it quits or be shown the door. Includes Flynn, Bannon, Spicer, Priebus, McFarland, Dubke, Powell, Omarosa, Porter, Scaramucci.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 28, 2018
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.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 28, 2018
Hicks does NOT even have a departure date yet. This is not her being hustled out of the building.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 28, 2018
She told colleagues she felt like she had done all she could do in the job. She had never liked Washington and never become part of its ecosystem.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 28, 2018
.@PressSec to reporters: "Guys, quit trying to make this a scandal – it's not. Don't try to read more into it than exists. This is something [Hicks] has been thinking about for awhile, so maybe it's surprising for you guys but it's not like it happened overnight."
— Gabby Morrongiello (@gabriellahope_) February 28, 2018
This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.
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