Grand jury declines to indict Cassidy Hutchinson over testimony on Trump’s January 6 actions
WASHINGTON, DC: A federal grand jury on Tuesday, October 27, declined to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, the former White House aide whose testimony about President Donald Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021, became a central part of the congressional investigation into the Capitol attack.
Prosecutors had sought charges over statements made by Hutchinson to the House committee in 2022, according to US officials and people familiar with the case. The decision, known as a “no bill,” represents another setback for the Justice Department as it pursues cases involving individuals Trump has accused of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors’ bid linked to Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony about Trump on January 6
Prosecutors were trying to indict Hutchinson for statements she made about Trump’s actions on Jan 6, 2021. At the time, Hutchinson served as a senior aide to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
During a televised hearing in June 2022, she described Trump as angry and determined to travel to the Capitol after addressing supporters who had gathered to protest his 2020 election defeat.
The former aide testified that Trump had wanted security screening measures removed from the rally area, saying that the president believed attendees were “not here to hurt me.” According to Hutchinson, Trump also said, “I don’t f*****g care that they have weapons.”
One of her most contentious claims concerned an alleged confrontation inside the presidential vehicle after the rally. Hutchinson told the committee that a White House security official had described Trump grabbing the steering wheel and lunging toward a Secret Service agent when he was prevented from going to the Capitol.
The account was, however, disputed. The driver of the presidential vehicle later told the House investigators that he did not see Trump grab the steering wheel or lunge into the front seat, although he corroborated that Trump had insisted on travelling to the Capitol. However, Hutchinson acknowledged during her testimony that she had not witnessed the alleged altercation herself and was recounting what she had been told.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Hutchinson after her testimony, calling her a “total phony” and “bad news.” The president has also described her as a “scam artist” and publicly suggested she should face prosecution. Hutchinson has maintained that her testimony was truthful.
Grand jury rejections add to Trump DOJ’s prosecution setbacks
The failed indictment adds to a series of cases in which Washington grand juries have declined to approve charges sought by the Trump administration. The Hutchinson investigation was handled by officials in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, led by Trump appointee Harmeet Dhillon.
Earlier this year, a grand jury rejected an effort to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a video in which they urged military and intelligence personnel to follow established procedures and refuse unlawful orders. Prosecutors have also faced repeated difficulties securing an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James after an initial case was dismissed on technical grounds.
Other people investigated or charged in cases involving Trump’s perceived political opponents include former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff.
The decision is announced as Trump continues to challenge accounts of the January 6 attack, for which he was impeached by the House in 2021 and later acquitted by the Senate.
