Mark Meadows was warned about violence including armed rally participants and did nothing.
Cassidy Hutchinson, former aide to ex Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, revealed some damning new information, which might permanently damage Trump’s strongholds. This was the surprise hearing held by the House Panel and although they did announce that the last two public hearings will be held in July, this came in sudden as “to present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony”. (article continued below)
On Tuesday, she recalled Donald Trump’s fury over losing the election, telling the court that he jumped at a Secret Service agent who wouldn’t take him to the Capitol on Jan 6th. According to Hutchinson, when Trump was informed he wouldn’t be taken to the Capitol, Trump lunged to the front of the vehicle with one hand, while the other hand was lunging at Robert Engel, the Secret Service agent in charge that day. She testified that this story was by Tony Ornato, ex White House deputy chief of staff.
And as we all know and duly confirmed by Hutchinson, he told staff that Vice President Mike Pence deserved all those chants from his supporters, shouting for him to be hanged.
She further added that Trump told the staff that he didn’t care if the rioters had weapons and in fact told the Secret Service to remove any equipment or devices that screens people with hidden weapons that day.
Hutchinson testified for approximately 2 hours on Tuesday and gave recorded depositions in which she describes her experience with Meadows and Trump, especially during the days prior to the riot. She says they had been repeatedly warned of violence that day.
Though, Secret Service or Trump’s allies haven’t disputed her testimony, some are refuting her specific claims and descriptions. For example, after the hearing, one of the Secret Service officials with knowledge on the matter told CNN that Ornato denies telling Hutchinson any of this grabbing the wheel or lunging at an agent.
Ornato is well known to have a strong relationship with Trump and has been given an uncommon waiver to suspend his time on the US Secret Service and instead serve as his deputy White House Chief of Staff.
The official also said that, Engel had also previously testified before the House Panel and described his interactions with Trump, however, he didn’t mention or was asked about this episode.
The House Panel did not ask the Secret Service witnesses to respond to Hutchinson’s testimony, said Anthony Gugliemi on Wednesday. He said, “We were not asked to reappear before the Committee in response to yesterday’s new information and we plan on formally responding on the record. We have and will continue to make any member of the Secret Service available.”