NEW YORK - Hope Hicks, a former White House aide to Donald Trump, was called to the witness stand on Friday in the former president's criminal trial, where she is expected to face questions about efforts during the 2016 presidential campaign to bury stories about his alleged sexual misbehavior.

While the jury in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president has heard accounts from outsiders about a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, they have yet to hear testimony from people who worked directly for Trump.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to cover up the payment to Daniels and denies having had a sexual encounter with her.

Hicks served Trump as a close political adviser during his first campaign for president in the 2016 election and for several years in the White House.

Called to testify by Manhattan prosecutors, Hicks said she was really nervous at the outset of her testimony.

Former National Enquirer tabloid publisher David Pecker testified at the trial that Hicks was in a 2015 meeting where Pecker promised to serve as "eyes and ears" for the Trump campaign and help suppress unflattering news stories that could have threatened his presidential prospects. REUTERS