Grand Jury Decides Not to Indict Cassidy Hutchinson

A grand jury has opted not to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House staffer, regarding her testimony about President Donald Trump’s actions during the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021.

The Justice Department was looking to pursue charges against Hutchinson, though the specifics remain unclear due to the ongoing confidentiality of the investigation. Prior to this, Trump and Republican officials had accused her of perjury concerning her statements before the House committee about the events of that day. Sources close to the situation confirmed to the Associated Press that the grand jury chose not to move forward with prosecution, offering limited details.

A Washington grand jury turned down a request from prosecutors to indict Hutchinson, according to individuals who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The exact nature of the allegations against Hutchinson has not come to light yet, but GOP lawmakers expressed that she had lied during her high-profile testimony in 2022, in which she depicted Trump as an angry and unruly president attempting to bypass security at a rally in response to his 2020 election loss. She also recounted an incident where Trump allegedly tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle when Secret Service prevented him from heading to the Capitol, and noted that he did not step in when rioters began chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”

However, Hutchinson clarified in her testimony that she was relaying details she’d heard from a White House security official, stating that she was not an eyewitness to the events she discussed.

Trump has referred to her as a “total phony” and “bad news,” contesting her claims.

In 2024, House Republicans also published a transcript from the January 6 Committee’s interview with the Secret Service agent who drove the presidential SUV, which contradicted some of Hutchinson’s assertions. While the driver confirmed that Trump was adamant about wanting to go to the Capitol during the riot, he denied any claim that the president attempted to grab the wheel.

“I didn’t see him, you know, lunge to try to get into the front seat at all,” the driver stated.

According to reports, the federal grand jury looked into potential false statements made by Hutchinson to the congressional committee.

It’s important to note that the grand jury’s choice not to indict Hutchinson doesn’t determine the truthfulness of her congressional testimony. Hutchinson has consistently asserted that her testimony was accurate.