Grand Jury Returns 6-0 Vote Against Indicting Hutchinson

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., voted six to zero on Tuesday to decline an indictment against Cassidy Hutchinson.

Hutchinson served as a senior aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows during the 2021 Capitol attack. She testified before the House select committee in 2022. Her account of events that day drew scrutiny from House Republican allies. Those lawmakers referred her case to the Justice Department.

Neville Hedley, a litigator for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, informed U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui of the outcome during a hearing on a separate matter. Hedley stated that the grand jury did not concur on the proposed indictment. He did not name the defendant in open court. Multiple sources briefed on the proceedings confirmed the vote concerned Hutchinson. The Justice Department has not yet issued a formal response to the decision.

Hutchinson's testimony alleged that President Trump and Meadows received warnings on January 6, 2021, that supporters arriving at the Capitol were carrying weapons. She stated that Trump said he did not care about the warnings. She also testified that Trump attempted to order the removal of magnetometers at his rally on the White House Ellipse. That morning, Trump told supporters, "after this, we're going to walk down, and I'll be there with you."

The former aide also recounted a story from then-Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato. Ornato told Hutchinson that Trump grew angry in a car after a Secret Service agent refused to drive him to the Capitol. Hutchinson testified that Trump lunged at the steering wheel during that argument. Trump's driver later provided sworn testimony contradicting that specific account.

Prosecutors have not specified which portions of Hutchinson's testimony the grand jury examined. The investigation remains under the purview of the Civil Rights Division. The next step in the legal process is currently undetermined as the department reviews the panel's decision.

The grand jury proceedings concluded on Tuesday. The vote stands as a 6-0 decision against moving forward with criminal charges in this specific matter.