Who is Cassidy Hutchinson?
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The Jan 6 Committee has released transcripts Cassidy Hutchinson's full testimony.
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Cassidy Hutchinson is Mark Meadows’ former senior aide. Hutchinson was at Meadows’ side leading up to and during the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. ​
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- Hutchinson testified that White House staff was aware of armed protesters' plans to march on the Capitol but White House Chief of Staff chose to do nothing in response.
Cassidy Hutchinson is a former top aide to Mark Meadows, who served as President Trump’s Chief of Staff from 2020-2021. Hutchinson has previously interned for Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Steve Scalise.
Hutchinson has been a prime witness for the committee due to her proximity to the former President and his inner circle.
Hutchinson’s Witness Testimony
On June 28th, Hutchinson testified about the lead up to January 6th from her perspective inside the West Wing. ​
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Hutchinson testified under oath that:
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Trump threw his lunch against the wall because he was so furious after Attorney General Bill Barr announced he found no evidence of widespread voter fraud to the Associated Press.
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Hutchinson said she saw a broken porcelain plate in the White House dining room following the Dec. 20, 2020, incident.
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Trump knew and didn’t care that his supporters had weapons at his Jan. 6 rally.
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"They are not here to hurt me" Trump said.
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After being told that marching to the Capitol with protesters was impossible, Trump, sitting in the back of his car in the motorcade, reached forward and tried to grab the steering wheel in order to move the vehicle in the direction of the Capitol. He later lunged at his security chief, Robert Engel, in an apparent attempt to choke him.
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White House counsel Pat Cipollone voiced concerns repeatedly about Trump’s plan to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as potentially illegal.
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​“Please make sure we don’t go up to the Capitol, Cassidy,” Hutchinson quoted Cipollone as telling her the morning of Jan. 6. “Keep in touch with me. We’re going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen.”
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Hutchinson’s Previous Testimony
Hutchinson has already testified to the committee about multiple schemes Trump and his allies attempted to remain in power.
In video clips shown by the committee, Hutchinson has discussed Republicans who inquired about Presidential pardons leading up to January 6th. She has also stated that Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer and a key player in orchestrating January 6th, were early adopters of a plan to adopt fake electors in states Trump lost.
Additionally, Hutchinson told the committee that Trump suggested to Meadows that he agreed with the rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” She stated, too, that Meadows was informed by the Secret Service ahead of January 6th that “there could potentially be violence on the 6th.” Hutchinson also informed the committee that Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) wanted an unqualified environmental attorney and Trump loyalist, Jeffrey Clark, to take over the Department of Justice.
Hutchinson Switches Lawyers
Before the hearings began on June 6th, Hutchinson changed her lawyer. She was previously represented by Stefan Passantino, who is well connected with Trump’s circle and served as a White House ethics lawyer from 2016-2018.
The move to switch lawyers signaled to the committee, and various news outlets, that Hutchinson was open to cooperating with the investigation – something her old boss, Meadows, would not do.