Don Jr. tells House intel panel he spoke with Hope Hicks about misleading Trump Tower statement -- but not his father

Donald Trump Jr. told the House Intelligence Committee he did not speak directly with his father, Donald Trump, about a response to a news report regarding his clandestine June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, and instead communicated with top White House aide Hope Hicks, CNN reports.

Trump Jr. crafted his response to a New York Times report that he met with a Russian lawyer while aboard Air Force One. Reports indicate Trump “personally dictated” Trump Jr.’s statement—which had to be revised three times as more information surrounding the meeting surfaced.

CNN reports that Trump Jr. told investigators Hicks “was speaking with Trump while the statement was being crafted.” According to Trump Jr., Trump was debating between a longer and shorter response, which was sent out through the Trump Organization.