Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., have presented evidence to a grand jury regarding possible perjury by Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, in her 2022 testimony to the House Jan. 6 Committee. The investigation, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, centers on whether Hutchinson provided false statements to Congress about events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Key Developments
Federal prosecutors have been presenting evidence to a grand jury in Washington, D.C., regarding potential perjury by Hutchinson, a former aide to Meadows. The investigation follows a referral from Republican allies in the House of Representatives. The Civil Rights Division, rather than the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., is handling the case.
Hutchinson’s testimony in June 2022 included detailed accounts of interactions with then-President Donald Trump and other White House officials on Jan. 6, 2021. Among her claims were assertions that Trump was aware some supporters were carrying weapons to the Capitol but dismissed concerns, and that he attempted to order the removal of magnetometers screening attendees at his Ellipse rally. She also recounted a secondhand account from then-Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato that Trump lunged at the steering wheel of his vehicle after being told he could not drive to the Capitol following his speech.
Contradictory Accounts
Hutchinson’s testimony has faced scrutiny from other witnesses. Trump’s lead Secret Service agent, in sworn testimony, disputed her account of Trump lunging at the steering wheel. The agent stated that Trump never attempted to grab the wheel. The discrepancy between Hutchinson’s account and the agent’s testimony has become a focal point of the investigation.
Prosecutors have not publicly specified which portions of Hutchinson’s testimony are under review. The investigation was initiated after Republican House members referred the matter to the Justice Department, according to media reports.
Background and Context
Hutchinson, who served as an assistant to Meadows, was a central witness before the House Jan. 6 Committee. Her testimony provided some of the most detailed and widely cited accounts of Trump’s actions and statements on Jan. 6, including his encouragement to supporters to march to the Capitol. Her claims have been cited in numerous reports and analyses of the events surrounding the Capitol attack.
The House Jan. 6 Committee, a now-defunct select committee, concluded its investigation in 2022 and issued a final report detailing its findings. The committee’s work has been a subject of ongoing political and legal debate, with critics questioning the validity of its conclusions and methods.
Hutchinson’s legal representatives have not publicly commented on the investigation. The Civil Rights Division’s involvement in the case is unusual, as such cases are typically handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the relevant jurisdiction.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed against Hutchinson as of this report.