CNN: House Intel to Interview Hope Hicks as Soon as Friday

Senior White House aide and President Donald Trump confidante Hope Hicks will meet with the House Intelligence Committee regarding its probe into Russian election interference as soon as Friday, CNN reports.

Trump's longest-serving political aide, and now-communications director, will be questioned about any knowledge she has of contacts between Russians and other Trump associates. Her testimony is significant as she will be the second sitting White House official known to have testified before the House Intelligence Committee, after senior White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Hicks is the youngest ever White House communications director, and outlasted Trump's first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, along with several other senior advisers. She has been in the president's inner circle for years, and "loves him like a father," Brad Parscale, digital director for Trump's 2016 campaign, told Newsweek.

She has firsthand knowledge of several events pertaining to the Russia probe, including when she was traveling on Air Force One with Trump when the two worked up a statement about Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer. Trump Jr. in December told members of the House Intelligence Committee he communicated with Hicks, not his father.

The House Intelligence committee this week is also set to interview former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and Lewandowski. Hicks previously sat down with special counsel Robert Mueller regarding his probe into Russia's hacking.

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