In the sixth televised hearing of the January 6th Committee, we heard live testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Mark Meadows. Hutchinson testified that the march on the Capitol was premeditated by Trump and his MAGA allies, and confirmed that the Trump White House knew that the rally would likely be violent, but “did not act.” After being informed that his supporters had military-grade weapons, Trump encouraged them to “fight like hell” and head to the Capitol. Hutchinson revealed that Trump attempted to take the wheel of his Secret Service car on January 6th, broke plates in the White House, and refused to condemn the ensuing violence for hours after. The Select Committee continues to lay out the evidence proving that Trump and MAGA Republicans knowingly encouraged armed insurrection, and never intended to stop trying to overturn the will of the people.
Associated Press: Former Aide: Trump Was Told Protesters Had Weapons On Jan. 6. “Hutchinson quoted Trump as directing his staff, in profane terms, to take away the metal-detecting magnetometers that he thought would slow down supporters who’d gathered in Washington. In videotaped testimony played before the committee, she recalled the former president saying words to the effect of: ‘I don’t f-in’ care that they have weapons.’ ‘They’re not here to hurt me. Take the f-in’ mags away. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here,’ Hutchinson testified.” [Associated Press, 6/28/22]
CNN: Aide: Trump Lunged At Security. “Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, is testifying before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Hutchinson said former President Trump and Meadows were aware of the possibility of violence on Jan. 6, including that supporters had weapons when they gathered on the Ellipse. Trump wanted to go to the Capitol and lunged at agents for the steering wheel when Secret Service tried to stop him, the ex-aide said she was told. While the panel can’t bring legal charges against Trump, its central mission has been to uncover the full scope of his attempt to stop the transfer of power and connect his efforts to the violence at the Capitol. The Justice Department would ultimately need to be the one to decide whether to bring criminal charges.” [CNN, 6/28/22]
Forbes: “They’re Not Here To Hurt Me”: Trump Wanted To Let Armed Rioters Enter His Rally, Aide Says. “He also allegedly tried to make his Secret Service detail drive to the Capitol, according to testimony during the Jan. 6 hearing.” [Forbes, 6/28/22]
Fox News: Trump ‘Lunged’ At Secret Service Agent Who Said He Couldn’t Go To Capitol On Jan. 6, Fmr. Aide Says. “The Jan. 6 Select Committee held a hearing to reveal “recently obtained evidence” Tuesday. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, said that Trump insisted on going to the Capitol despite repeatedly being told he could not. […] …[Hutchinson] said Tuesday that Meadows and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani each sought pardons after Jan. 6. […] Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, deputy counsel Pat Philbin and others urged Trump to put out another stronger statement of unity on Jan. 7, the day after the attack on the Capitol.” [Fox News, 6/28/22]
The Hill: Hutchinson Says Trump Knew Jan. 6 Attendees Had Weapons: ‘They’re Not Here To Hurt Me’. “Hutchinson, a former top aide to Meadows, told the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that Trump was “furious” that the Ellipse near the White House had not filled up to capacity for a rally on the morning of the Electoral College certification. […] Her deposition about Trump’s frustration and calls to overrule Secret Service was prefaced with testimony that former deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato had informed both Meadows and Trump that some of the attendees at the rally on Jan. 6 were carrying weapons.” [The Hill, 6/28/22]
LA Times: Trump Tried To Strangle Secret Service Agent In Attempt To Reach Capitol On Jan. 6, Aide Testifies. “ Former aide to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows testifies in surprise hearing. ‘I don’t f— care that they have weapons’: Trump demanded security allow rioters anyway, aide says. Trump’s chief of staff knew Jan. 6 ‘might get real bad.” [Los Angeles Times, 6/28/22]
New York Times: TRUMP TRIED TO LOOSEN SECURITY ON JAN. 6, Knew Supporters Were Armed and Could Turn Violent. “Former President Donald J. Trump knew the crowd he amassed in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, was armed and could turn violent, but wanted security precautions lifted because he said his supporters were not there to attack him. He demanded to march to the Capitol with his supporters even as the riot was underway, trying to grab the steering wheel of the presidential limo from a Secret Service agent to try to steer the car there when he was told that it was not safe.” [New York Times, 6/28/22]
Reuters: Trump Did Not Care That Jan. 6 Rioters Were Armed, Tried To Hijack Limo. “Speaking in soft but assured tones, Hutchinson painted a picture of panicked White House officials bristling at the possibility of Trump joining what was to become a violent mob pushing its way into the Capitol, hunting for then-Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers who were then certifying the victory of Democrat Joe Biden over the Republican Trump in the 2020 election. […] Hutchinson, who sat doors away from Trump’s Oval Office, testified that just days before the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Meadows knew of the looming violence that could unfold.” [Reuters, 6/28/22]
Wall Street Journal: Trump Demanded to Be Driven to Capitol on Jan. 6, Former Aide Says. “Cassidy Hutchinson, a top aide to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows testifying before the Jan. 6 panel, said Messrs. Meadows and Trump were told members of the crowd gathered for the former president’s Jan. 6 rally were armed with knives, guns, and other weapons and said Mr. Trump was concerned turnout was limited by magnetometers.” [Wall Street Journal, 6/28/22]
Washington Post: Trump Lunged For Steering Wheel In Bid To Reach Capitol, Aide Testifies. “‘I’m the f-ing president! Take me up to the Capitol now!’ Hutchinson, a former aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, quoted Trump as saying in testimony to the House select committee. She also described an outburst by Trump at his former attorney general in which he threw dishes, leaving ketchup streaming down the wall.” [Washington Post, 6/28/22]
Boston Globe: Furious Trump Demanded To Go To Capitol On Jan. 6, Aide Says. “She said she wasn’t sure what he would have done at the Capitol as a violent mob of his supporters was breaking in. There were conversations about him ‘going into the House chamber at one point,’ Hutchinson said. Hutchinson quoted Trump as directing his staff, in profane terms, to take away the metal-detecting magnetometers that he thought would slow down supporters who’d gathered in Washington. In videotaped testimony played before the committee, she recalled the former president saying words to the effect of: ‘I don’t f-in’ care that they have weapons.’” [Boston Globe, 6/28/22]
Bloomberg: Trump Knew His Supporters Had Guns as He Targeted US Capitol, Jan. 6 Panel Told. “‘Take the f’ing mags away,’ she quoted Trump as saying, adding he said he didn’t care if they were armed. ‘They aren’t here to hurt me,’ she quoted him saying. ‘They can march to the Capitol after the rally’s over.’” [Bloomberg, 6/28/22]
Huffington Post: Trump Knew Supporters Had Weapons On Jan. 6 But Didn’t Care, Top Aide Testifies. “Hutchinson recalled that Trump had been informed by Secret Service that his supporters had brought weapons to his rally shortly before the attack on the Capitol. Those weapons included bear spray, spears, guns and flagpoles used as weapons. Trump, however, was apparently fixated on the crowd size and demanded more of his supporters be allowed to bypass metal detectors to watch him speak, Hutchinson testified.” [Huffington Post, 6/28/22]
USA Today: Trump Lunged At A Security Chief On Jan. 6, Demanded To Go To Capitol, Former White House Aide Says. “Former President Donald 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, even though aides said he had to go back to the White House. He later lunged at his security chief in an apparent attempt to choke him.” [USA Today, 6/28/22]
In The States
ABC15 Arizona: Witness Says Trump Was Insistent On Going To Capitol On Jan. 6. “Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, offered damning testimony before the Jan. 6 committee on Tuesday. Hutchinson said former President Donald Trump knew some of his supporters were armed at his rally and demanded that they not be screened because they didn’t want to hurt him.” [ABC15 Arizona, 6/28/22]
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Cassidy Hutchinson, Trump White House Aide, Now In Spotlight. “The 25-year-old Hutchinson, who was an aide to Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, made several shocking revelations about Trump and Meadows in nationally televised testimony before a House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. […] She showed her proximity and familiarity with key Trump figures, referring at times to Meadows, security official Tony Ornato, and national security adviser Robert O’Brien by their first names. Meadows, in turn, called her “Cass,” in her retelling of one story.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/28/22]
