The final hearing on June 28 featured testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Here are the key moments from her testimony:
Hutchinson ‘Frightened’ of January 6 plans
Hutchinson said she was “scared” about the White House’s plans for Jan. 6. After a Jan. 2 meeting between Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani told Hutchinson that the 6th “would be a great day,” he testified. “We’re going to the Capitol, it’s going to be great,” Giuliani told her, adding that then-President Donald Trump would be there with members of Congress and “look strong.” Meadows later told her that “things could get really, really bad on January 6th.” “That night was the first time I remember feeling scared and nervous about what might happen on January 6,” she told the Commission.
Trump knew those in attendance had guns
Hutchinson said the White House was aware that members of the far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers would attend Trump’s Jan. 6 rally. “I remember hearing the word Oath Keeper and Proud Boys closer to planning the January 6 rally when [Rudy] Giuliani would be close,” Hutchinson said. Metro and Capitol Police reported that people at the rally had numerous weapons, including firearms. He said Meadows and Trump weren’t concerned that these people were coming through magnetometers with guns. Hutchinson said she heard the President ask to “let my people in” as they “marched toward the Capitol after the rally was over.” Trump wanted attendees inside the official gathering area and encouraged them to walk to the Capitol. He also wanted the Secret Service to remove the magnetometers. Hutchinson testified that Trump said, “I don’t care if they have guns. They’re not here to hurt me. Get the dudes … then they can march on the Capitol.”
Trump was involved in a physical altercation in the limo
Former President Donald Trump was involved in a physical altercation in the presidential limousine after learning he would not be taken to the Capitol on Jan. 6, Hutchinson testified. Trump was “furious” when he learned he was being taken to the White House instead of the Capitol after his speech. Tony Ornato, the assistant director of the US Secret Service Office of Training, told Hutchinson that Trump “said something to the effect of, ‘I’m the would-be President. Take me to the Capitol now””. When Trump’s security detail was denied, Trump allegedly “reached across the front of the vehicle to grab the steering wheel,” Hutchinson said. Trump then “used his free hand to lunge at Bobby Engel,” Trump’s head of security. Tuesday’s hearing revealed that Trump and his allies knowingly promoted a bogus plan to overturn the election and failed to prevent and stop violence on Capitol Hill. 4️⃣-minute recap of Cassidy Hutchinson’s deposition ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xa3LPYXlAA — January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) July 3, 2022
White House counsel warned against Trump’s visit to Capitol Hill
The former White House counsel warned Trump of the legal ramifications of moving to Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. “Mr. Cipollone said something to the effect of ‘please make sure we don’t go up to the Capitol. We will be charged with every crime imaginable if we make this visit,” he said. Hutchinson also said Cipollone was concerned that a visit to the Capitol that day by Trump “would look like we were obstructing justice or obstructing the count of the Electoral College” and “inciting or encouraging a riot.” Cipollone urged Meadows to take action to stop the people from storming the Capitol. Hutchinson said Cipollone told Meadows that if he didn’t do anything, people would die and “blood would be on your hands.” When Cipollone said the rioters were chanting “hang Mike Pence,” Meadows said Trump believed Pence “deserved it” and that the rioters did nothing wrong. “As an American, I was disgusted,” Hutchinson said of the moment. “It was unpatriotic. It was un-American. We were seeing the Capitol building defaced for a lie.”
Trump allies demanded a pardon
Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows both expressed interest in receiving presidential pardons in connection with the events that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021, Cassidy Hutchinson testified Tuesday. Hutchinson said Trump wanted to include language in the statement about potentially granting presidential pardons to rioters. “I understand that Mr. Meadows encouraged that language as well,” he said. When asked by Committee Co-Chair Liz Cheney, Hutchinson said both Giuliani and Meadows had asked Trump for a pardon.
Trump’s Cabinet discussed the 25th Amendment
Senior Trump administration officials had conversations about invoking the 25th Amendment after the events of Jan. 6, Hutchinson testified. After the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, there were discussions among Trump’s cabinet about “stripping the full power of the Presidency from Donald Trump,” committee vice chair Liz Cheney said. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo contacted former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to inform him of the conversations he was hearing about the 25th Amendment. Pompeo told Meadows that “if the talks go forward, you should be prepared to take action on that,” adding that he was “concerned” about him and his position, Hutchinson said.
Some Witnesses report intimidation
During her closing statement, Cheney said the commission had received reports of witness tampering from people close to Trump. A witness, whom Cheney did not identify, said they were told, “as long as I continue to be on the team, they know I’m on the team, I’m doing the right thing, I’m protecting I’ve got to protect, you know, I’m going to stay in good graces in Trump’s world.” That witness added that the person who had spoken with them “reminded me a few times that Trump reads transcripts and just to keep that in mind as I went through my testimony and interviews with the committee.” Another witness told the committee they had received a phone call before their testimony in which the person on the other end of the line said:[A person] let me know you have your deposit tomorrow. He wants to let you know that he is thinking of you. He knows you are faithful and will do the right thing when you come in for your deposition.” “I think most Americans know that trying to influence witnesses to testify falsely presents very serious concerns,” Cheney said. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testifies during the sixth hearing held by the Select Committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol on June 28, 2022 at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington. , DC. Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images
