'We got Bannoned!': Hope Hicks testified before the House Intel Committee in the Russia investigation - and she apparently didn't give anything up

Associated Press and Michal KranzFeb 27, 2018, 11.38 PM

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images White House Communications Director Hope Hicks waves to reporters as she arrives to testify behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee.

White House communications director Hope Hicks is testifying before the House Intelligence Committee as a witness in the Russia investigation.
Hicks is a key witness in the probe due to her closeness to Trump during the 2016 campaign and in his administration.
Hicks reportedly refused to answer some of the Committee's questions during the hearing.

President Donald Trump's longtime aide Hope Hicks was meeting with the House intelligence committee Tuesday for a closed-door interview as part of the panel's Russia investigation.

Hicks arrived shortly after 10 a.m. through a rear entrance to the committee's interview space and did not answer shouted questions from reporters.

The panel is investigating contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia, as is special counsel Robert Mueller. Hicks has also been interviewed by Mueller.

As one of Trump's closest aides, she is a key eyewitness to his actions over the past several years. She was his spokeswoman during the 2016 presidential campaign and is White House communications director.

It's unclear how much Hicks told the committee. Others who have worked at the White House, including former adviser Steve Bannon, have refused to answer questions, citing limits on what they can say. The House is now considering whether to hold Bannon in contempt.

But Hicks looks like she might have partially stonewalled investigators too, according to Democratic committee member Rep. Denny Heck.

"We got Bannoned!" Heck said after the hearing, according to Bloomberg .

Heck said Hicks refused to answer some of the questions she was asked by the panel.

In the hours before Hicks' arrival, Trump tweeted several times , quoting cable news commentators who said they hadn't seen evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia.

One tweet encouraged investigations of his Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. And a last tweet simply said "WITCH HUNT!"