Justice Department seeks criminal indictment of former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson over her testimony to Congress about January 6
The U.S. Justice Department is seeking a criminal indictment of Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and one of the most prominent witnesses in the congressional investigation of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Federal prosecutors have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury in Washington over allegations that Hutchinson lied to Congress, although she has not been charged and the specific statements prosecutors are challenging have not been publicly disclosed.
The effort is being led by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, an unusual assignment because investigations involving alleged false statements to Congress are typically handled by federal prosecutors rather than the division responsible primarily for enforcing civil-rights laws.
Hutchinson became a central figure in the House January 6 committee’s televised hearings in 2022. Among her most closely scrutinized testimony was an account she said had been relayed to her by then-White House deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato: that Trump became angry after being told he could not go to the Capitol and reached toward the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle before lunging toward a Secret Service agent. The driver of the vehicle later disputed that account.
The current investigation followed criminal referrals from Republican Reps. Barry Loudermilk and Jim Jordan, who accused Hutchinson of making false statements to the committee. Trump has also repeatedly called for her prosecution. Hutchinson has not been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury, and the Justice Department has declined to publicly confirm or deny the investigation.
Hutchinson’s June 2022 testimony became one of the most closely watched moments of the House investigation into January 6. She also testified that Trump had been told some people gathering for his rally were armed and recounted conversations inside the White House as the Capitol attack unfolded. The House committee concluded its work in 2022, while disputes over Hutchinson’s testimony have continued among Trump allies, former administration officials and congressional investigators.
