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Witness says Trump was insistent on going to Capitol on Jan. 6

APTOPIX Capitol Riot Investigation
Posted at 5:37 AM, Jun 28, 2022
and last updated 2022-06-28 15:26:25-04

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.

“I don’t effing care that they have weapons," he said, according to Hutchinson.

The 25-year-old described conversations between her, Meadows and other aides about the potential security risks of Jan. 6.

She said she confronted Meadows after she had a conversation with Rudy Giuliani.

"When hearing's Rudy's take on Jan. 6 and then Mark's response— that evening was the first moment that I remember feeling scared," she said.

Hutchinson said there were discussions about Trump wanting to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6. She said aides demanded that Trump not be allowed to go to the Capitol.

However, after giving his speech, Hutchinson said that Trump was insistent on going to the Capitol.

Hutchinson testified about a conversation she had at the White House about what happened in the presidential limo after Trump gave his speech.

Hutchinson said she was told the president demanded to go to the Capitol and lunged at the steering wheel when his request was refused. Hutchinson said she was also told that Trump assaulted a Secret Service agent in the limo.

Trump responded to Hutchinson's testimony on Truth Social. The former president tried to describe Hutchinson, saying he hardly knew her.

Following Jan. 6, Hutchinson described efforts to get Trump to release a statement condemning the attack. Hutchinson claimed Trump was resistant to the idea. She said he wanted to mention pardons for the rioters, but that idea was knocked down by aides and legal teams in the White House.

Trump ultimately released a video where he called for the country to come together.

Hutchinson ended her testimony by saying that Meadows and Giuliani sought pardons following Jan. 6. Neither received a pardon prior to Trump leaving office.