Cassidy Hutchinson provides her perspective in her inaugural televised interview following her testimony
Cassidy Hutchinson provides her perspective in her inaugural televised interview following her testimony.
Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump White House aide who delivered impactful testimony before the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, has spoken out in her first TV interview since appearing on Capitol Hill.
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In her interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Hutchinson defended the anecdotes she shared during her testimony under oath. She questioned what she would gain by coming forward, emphasizing that it would have been easier for her to remain complicit and stay within her comfort zone.
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CBS also revealed that Hutchinson had given testimony to grand juries in Fulton County, Georgia, and Washington, DC, regarding the aftermath of the 2020 election. However, it remains unclear how significant her testimony was in shaping the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump.
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Hutchinson disclosed that an attorney initially assigned to her, with connections to Trump’s political circles and funding, had advised her that the less she remembered during her interviews with House investigators, the better. While she initially responded to several questions with “I don’t know” or “I don’t recall,” Hutchinson stressed that this was information she distinctly remembered.
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Her previous testimony shed light on Trump’s awareness of the potential for violence on January 6, 2021, yet he continued to incite his supporters.
Hutchinson also mentioned that she had heard a secondhand account indicating Trump’s fury at his Secret Service detail for preventing him from reaching the Capitol on January 6. She claimed that he had even tried to seize control of his presidential limo. However, Secret Service agent Bobby Engel and then-White House deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato, whom she cited as her sources, both denied recalling such an incident.
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Nevertheless, Hutchinson asserted her recollection, stating, “I know what I recall… I stand by what I testified to.” She acknowledged the possibility that Engel and Ornato may not remember the incident.
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CNN’s Jake Tapper is set to conduct an interview with Hutchinson, scheduled to air on “The Lead” at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. These public appearances precede the release of Hutchinson’s upcoming book titled “Enough.”
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In an excerpt from the book, Hutchinson alleges that Rudy Giuliani groped her during the January 6, 2021 rally that preceded the US Capitol attack. Giuliani’s political adviser vehemently denied the claim, labeling it a “disgusting lie.” Hutchinson and her publisher, however, stand by the story, as reported by CBS.
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Hutchinson mentioned that she has been gradually emerging from her seclusion and venturing out “in limited capacities” for security reasons after becoming a witness against Trump. She drew inspiration from the story of Alexander Butterfield, a Watergate hearings witness, and expressed gratitude for his guidance.
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Since her extensive two-hour testimony, Hutchinson has consistently defended her statements against criticism from Trump allies. She has also cooperated with Georgia prosecutors investigating Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election in the state—a matter in which the former president faces indictment.
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Regarding the 2024 election, Hutchinson unequivocally stated that she would not vote for Donald Trump, citing him as a danger to the country.
