The frantic texts Hope Hicks sent to Michael Cohen when details of the McDougal deal were published just FOUR DAYS before the 2016 election ... with hints about Stormy Daniels

Text messages swapped by two key Trump insiders reveal their panic as a newspaper closed in on a story about a Playboy model and her affair allegation just four days before the 2016 election.

Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen repeatedly messaged Hope Hicks, press secretary to Donald Trump's campaign, asking if there were any developments.

Eventually she responds with a link to the published story, headlined: 'National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation.'

Almost eight years later the fallout from that story reverberates around a Manhattan criminal court, where the former president is on trial accused of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to another woman.

But back then, the messages show Hicks and Cohen hoping that the story about 1998 Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal will just disappear. They know that buried deep in the piece is another thread for journalists to investigate: The name 'Stormy Daniels.'

Texts between top Trump aides Michael Cohen and Hope Hicks from days before the 2016 election were published in court on Thursday. They show the panic as they wait for a Wall Street Journal report to drop on allegations that a Playboy model was paid off

A Wall Street Journal story published days before the 2016 election reverberates around courtroom 1530 of Manhattan criminal court where Donald Trump is on trial

EXCLUSIVEREAD MORE: The texts from Stormy Daniels' publicist claiming Trump first tried to silence her in 2012

'Lots of innuendos with little fact,' writes Cohen.

'Poorly written and I don't see it getting much play.'

Hicks replies: 'I agree with most of that!! It will get play bc the media is the worst but he should just ignore and blow past it.'

Trump's treatment of women was already under intense scrutiny after publication of the 'Inside Hollywood' tape, in which he bragged about the way he treated female admirers.

And now the new story suggested an expensive scheme to silence women who had affairs with the Republican candidate.

Cohen, who later admitted facilitating the $150,000 payment, suggests Trump should quickly draw a line under it. 

'One quick statement by him to blow off steam and say that there is no validity and WSJ has turned into a smut paper,' he says.

'Yep,' replies Hicks. 'Ok pray Michael, pray!!!'

Early the next morning, Cohen is ready to breathe a sigh of relief.

'So far I see only 6 stories,' he writes. 'Getting little to no traction.' 

Once they have reviewed the story about a hush money payment, they dismiss it, hoping it will blow over. It is just four days before the 2016 election, pitting Trump against Hillary Clinton

At the time, Hicks was the Trump campaign press secretary and Cohen was Trump's attorney 

Little did they know that the story would set in motion a path leading to courtroom 1530 of Manhattan Criminal Court, where their text messages were introduced as evidence on Thursday.

Both are expected to appear as witnesses for the prosecution to answer questions about how the so called 'catch and kill' agreement, to buy and bury negative stories, was set up and paid for.

Last week, America's tabloid kind David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, described how he offered to act as the 'eyes and ears' of the campaign during a pivotal 2015 Trump Tower meeting. 

And this week, the court heard from the celebrity lawyer who helped Karen McDougal, the Playboy model, sell her story.

Trump denies all 34 charges of falsifying business records, and his lawyers have sought to show that he was the target of muckrakers and extortionists. 

But in those days before the election, both Hicks and Cohen were convinced the story would go away.

'Keep praying!! It's working!' Hicks messaged to the lawyer.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Nov 4, 2016 that the company that owns the National Enquirer agreed to pay $150,000 to Karen McDougal for her story of an affair a decade ago with the Republican presidential nominee, but then didn’t publish it

At this point, Cohen had already been involved in a payment to a second woman, Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name was Stormy Daniels. Her name is brought up in the Wall Street Journal story.

It describes how the celebrity lawyer Keith Davidson represented Clifford as well as McDougal, and that she had been in talks with ABC's 'Good Morning America' to discuss a past relationship with Trump, before calling off the talks.

Cohen says he has a denial ready if needed.  

'Even CNN not talking about it,' he replied. 'No one believes it and if necessary, I have a statement by Storm denying everything and contradicting the other porn stars statement.

'I wouldn't use it now or even discuss with him as no one is talking about this or cares!'

Hicks ask him to stay in touch and he responds a little later: 'Can't wait for this to be over...especially with a win.'

Trump pulled off a shock win over Hillary Clinton in the election, but the repercussions from the story were only just beginning.