Manhattan prosecutors may call Hope Hicks, others from Trump's 'inner circle' in Alvin Bragg case

New York prosecutors involved in the Manhattan case against former President Donald Trump, alleging falsification of business records during his 2016 election campaign, are expected to lean on several witnesses from Trump's inner circle including Hope Hicks, according to sources cited by ABC News. 

Among the potential witnesses are Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime assistant; Madeleine Westerhout, former director of Oval Office operations;  and Hope Hicks, a longtime aide to Trump. 

In addition, prosecutors may call Deborah Tarasoff, who worked in accounting for the Trump Organization, Jeffrey McConney, the organization's former controller, and Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen, as witnesses, according to a source familiar with the investigation. 

Trump's defense team previously filed a motion for the judge to limit Cohen's testimony, referring to him as a "serial liar." 

Former Trump aides who appeared before the grand jury who probed the case, such as Kellyanne Conway, are not expected to be called as witnesses in the trial, per ABC News. 

The trial is scheduled to commence on April 15. Because prosecutors have yet to release a witness list publicly, possible changes may still be made. 

The former President is pleading not guilty to charges alleging him of falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Trump has accused the Manhattan District Attorney’s office of attempting to derail his 2024 election campaign. 

“It's a disgrace that it can happen," Trump said in March. "This case could have been brought three and a half years ago, and they decided to wait now just during the election so that I won't be able to campaign.”