According to NBC News, Hicks, who is 35 years old, had met with prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office last year for several hours. The source with direct knowledge revealed that investigators believe Hicks, in her role as Trump's 2016 campaign press secretary, was involved in negotiating a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to prevent her from disclosing her alleged affair with the former Republican nominee from a decade ago.

Hicks' attorney had previously maintained that she was unaware of the payment made to Daniels until it was reported by the Wall Street Journal in January 2018. Trump, aged 77, has consistently denied having any involvement in an affair with Daniels. However, the charges against Trump revolve around accusations that he falsified business records to conceal the reimbursement of the hush money paid to his former attorney, Michael Cohen.

Cooperating with Bragg's office, Cohen, who served a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion, campaign finance violations, and other charges, is expected to be a key witness in the trial against Trump. The former president currently faces a total of 88 criminal counts across four separate indictments. As the trial draws closer, Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, denouncing the prosecution as a "witch hunt" aimed at impeding his chances of securing a second term later this year.

It is widely anticipated that Stormy Daniels will also testify once the trial commences. Although Trump had attempted to block both Cohen and Daniels from appearing as witnesses, his efforts were struck down by the court last month. The Post has reached out to Hicks' lawyer for comment, and has also contacted a spokesperson representing Trump, as well as Bragg's office, for further statements.