Federal grand jury hears evidence in probe of former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson's Jan 6 testimony: source
Federal Grand Jury Hears Evidence on Former Trump White House Aide, No Charges Yet
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal grand jury in Washington has begun to consider evidence that former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson may have made false statements to Congress. The proceedings, which are still in the investigation phase, do not automatically lead to criminal charges, and no decision has been announced.
Hutchinson, who worked in the White House under then‑chief of staff Mark Meadows, testified in June 2022 before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. In that hearing she described Trump’s reaction after the president was told he could not travel to the Capitol, as well as a confrontation that allegedly occurred in the presidential vehicle. Those accounts have since been disputed by other witnesses familiar with the events.
The Justice Department has opened a probe into Hutchinson’s congressional testimony. According to a source familiar with the matter, the grand jury is examining whether any of her statements to the committee were false. While it is not yet clear which portions of her testimony are under scrutiny, the investigation centers on potential misstatements that could amount to false testimony.
A federal grand jury convened by the DOJ will hear evidence, and additional testimony could be presented as early as next week. The source, who asked to remain unnamed, said the proceedings are in the grand jury phase and that the DOJ has not yet decided whether to bring criminal charges.
The grand jury process allows prosecutors to gather evidence and assess whether a case meets the threshold for indictment. The presentation of evidence alone does not prove that a crime was committed, and the outcome of the proceedings remains uncertain.
Neither a representative for the Justice Department nor Hutchinson’s attorney has responded to requests for comment. The White House has not issued a statement on the matter.
The investigation follows earlier coverage by the New York Post, which reported Thursday that the DOJ was looking into Hutchinson’s statements to Congress. The article also noted that the grand jury had already been convened to hear evidence related to the matter.
The grand jury’s findings, if any, will be released by the Justice Department once a decision has been made. For now, the case remains in the early stages, with the federal prosecutors still reviewing the evidence presented.