Abandon All Hope

Hope Hicks, the former aide to Donald Trump, used to be a model, and she was not one of those famous star models who stand out as unique icons of fashion and beauty.  Hope Hicks was one of those small-time models you see in a magazine or on a book cover who come across as nameless, lifeless faces.  You don't know who they are or what they're like; they're just ciphers who stare back blankly from the page, have no identity and communicate nothing.

Which is exactly how she proved to be in real life when she testified before the House Judiciary  Committee about Trump in a closed-door session.

Backed by White House lawyers and advisers, Hicks refused to say anything that Trump didn't want out in official testimony.  She proved to be just as mute when she entered and left the committee room, reporters failing to get much out of her.  Calvin Coolidge said more when, replying to a woman at a White House dinner who said she'd bet a friend she could get the President to say at least three words, said, "You lose!"   

As did the House Judiciary Committee, which was unable to get Hicks on record or on camera refusing to go on record.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler sees a blessing in disguise, though, because he thinks that Hicks' stonewalling will make it easier for a judge to force the White House to comply. Maybe.  But perhaps that's the reason why Trump is packing the courts - to make sure there are judges who do not allow that to happen.

And, like Hope Hicks, they're probably not going to say much.