On Tuesday, in testimony before the January 6th Committee, Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to former Trump White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, purported that former President Trump literally tried to take charge of the presidential suburban during the January 6 riot. She also claimed that Trump became almost violent when Bobby Engel tried to stop him. The testimony she gave however, was clearly second hand, as Hutchinson said she learned of the story from Tony Ornato, the White House deputy chief of staff. Though she did not witness any of her testimony first hand, Hutchinson related that:
“I noticed the head of Mr. Trump’s security detail sitting in a chair, looking somewhat discombobulated, a little lost,” Hutchinson testified. “I looked at Tony, he said, ‘Did you effing hear what happened in the Beast?’ I said, ‘No, Tony, I just got back, what happened?’ continuing this second-hand story she said -
“Tony proceeded to tell me that when the president got in the Beast, he was under the impression from Mr. Meadows that the off-the-record movement to the Capitol was still possible and likely to happen but that Bobby had more information. As the president had gotten into the vehicle with Bobby, he thought that they were going up to the Capitol. And when Bobby had relayed to him that we’re not; we don’t have the assets to do it; it’s not secure; we’re going back to the West Wing, the president had a very strong, very angry response to that.” …“said something to the effect of, ‘I’m the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now.'”
- Cassidy Hutchinson, Former WH Aid
And finally, for emphasis, she added that when Bobby Engel allegedly told Trump that they would be going back to the West Wing, Hutchinson reportedly said that the former president became borderline aggressive. She stated that she was told-
“The president reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm, said, ‘Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel, we’re going back to the West Wing, we’re not going to the Capitol.’ Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel.”
- Cassidy Hutchinson, Former WH Aid
If this were factual, it would certainly be very damaging to President Trump, however - just because Hutchinson has recanted a second-hand story, doesn’t make it true. It makes it GOSSIP - at best, unless corroborated.
It is clear that truth doesn’t matter to this special committee, who prefers to go on an in-depth fishing expedition, claiming by their spokesperson that-
“The Committee trusts the credibility of a witness who was willing to testify under oath & in public but is also willing to hear any information that others may have that would aid in their investigation.”
-January 6th Committee Spokesperson
It’s sad that they are so apt to take any “public” testimony at all, even that of hearsay, to find a way to fault the former president – but, isn’t that what this committee is all about? Let’s be truthful about this for a change.
It’s members, have no apparent scruples and continue to be severely discredited by this widely reported political stunt.
Even those who are not at all supporters of Trump, are already derailing Hutchinson’s testimony. Truth or Fiction? It would seem America may actually hear the facts yet, instead of confabulated versions of the truth.
CNN, a blatantly anti-Trump media outlet, reported according to Shimon Prokupecz - that a Secret Service official familiar with the matter, said that Tony Ornato denies telling Cassidy Hutchinson that Trump lunged for the steering wheel. Additionally, per Prokupecz, the Secret Service issued the following statement:
“The United States Secret Service has been cooperating with the Select Committee since its inception in spring 2021, and will continue to do so, including by responding on the record to the Committee regarding the new allegations surfaced in today’s testimony.”
-United StatesSecret Service
In fact, reportedly testifying that the former president did not try to commandeer his suburban, during the riots on January 6th, the lead Secret Service agent in charge of President Trump’s detail, will give his statement before the committee. This is in direct contradiction, of the supposed testimony, from former WH aide Hutchinson.
Apparently also, CBS News’, Nicole Sganga reported that both Bobby Engel and former President Trump’s driver would contradict Hutchinson’s testimony.
And not to be outdone, ABC News reported that a source close to the Secret Service tells @PierreTABC to expect the Secret Service to push back against any allegation of an assault against an agent or President Trump reaching for the steering wheel.
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.”
- George Washington