Former Donald Trump staffer Cassidy Hutchinson told a House Select Committee on Jan. 6 that allies of the former president told her they were not fully aware of events in the White House at the time of the Revolt. transcripts of interviews just released.
Hutchinson, who was an adviser to former chief of staff Mark Meadows, participated in interviews under oath with the Jan. 6 committee over two days in September, adding to earlier testimony he gave to the grand jury. Beginning with questions about his legal representation, Hutchinson explained that he initially did not want to retain an attorney in what he called “Trump World,” but that his financial situation limited his options.
At one point, she agreed to be represented by Stefan Passantino, a former Trump White House ethics lawyer. She told the jury the agreement was that if she cooperated, she would be “taken care of.”
“[Passantino] he said, “Look, we want to let you in, let’s get you out. We will minimize your role. You were a secretary… everyone agrees on that. … The less you remember, the better,’” Hutchinson told the committee.
He later clarified that he believed “everybody” meant a group of lawyers helping Trump with his various legal issues, including Alex Cannon and Eric Herschmann.
Hutchinson said Passantino specifically told her not to say anything about a Jan. 6, 2021, presidential limousine incident that became part of her explosive testimony at a public hearing this summer.
“I told Stefan something like, ‘Yeah, I had this conversation with Tony Ornato when we got back from the rally that day and he told me that the president tried to wrap his hands around his neck Bobby and strangle him because he didn’t want to. makes you want to take him to the Capitol,’” Hutchinson testified, referring to Secret Service agent Robert Engel. Ornato is a former deputy director of the Secret Service and a former White House deputy chief of staff.
Trump wanted to go to the Capitol with his supporters, who broke into the building and attacked the police.
“Stefan said, ‘No, no, no, no, no,'” Hutchinson testified. He said he did not want her to bring the alleged incident to light. She later pointed out that Passantino never explicitly told her to lie, instead advising her to rely on the “I don’t remember” line.
Hutchinson said she felt trepidation about the whole situation, worried she was perjuring herself. She told the committee she told her mother: “I’m miserable.”
“I’m completely indebted to these people,” Hutchinson recalled telling his mother. “And they’re going to ruin my life, mom, if I do something they don’t want me to do.”
At one point, her estranged uncles, who are QAnon supporters, discussed refinancing their home to give her the financial independence she needed to hire her own lawyer, Hutchinson told the commission. Another time, she went to her biological father’s house — a man with whom she had little contact — and “asked” for help, knowing he was a Trump supporter, but he said no.
In his initial statements to the committee, Hutchinson said he believed he “made Trump look [her] shoulder.”
Ultimately, Hutchinson was able to retain another attorney. She said her “breaking point” was being told she would have to stop cooperating with the committee on January 6 and risk being held in contempt, which could have led to criminal charges she was not prepared to face .
Passantino took a leave of absence from his firm, Michael Best & Friedrich, following the release of the Hutchinson transcripts, according to Bloomberg Law. The lawyer said in a statement that he represented Hutchinson “honorably, ethically and fully consistent with his unique interests as he communicated them to me,” the media reported.
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