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Will the January 6, 2021 Capitol Storm hearings thwart Trump's comeback plans?
Cassidy Hutchinson's statements on Tuesday evening raise new questions that US media reports apparently also take Trump's current advisers seriously.
Hutchinson was a close associate of Trump's White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, at the time.
Their questioning was about the moments after Trump's appearance in front of his supporters, when he spoke again of the alleged election fraud and swore his fans to fight back.
They then made their way to the Capitol, and apparently the incumbent President also wanted to go there.
Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House staffer:
"Tony [Secret Service's Ornato] then told me that the President got the impression from Mr. Meadows when he got into the presidential limousine that the unofficial trip to the Capitol was still possible and probable, but that Bobby Engel, Trump's chief of security, had more information.
So when the President got in the car with Bobby, he figured they were going to the Capitol.
When Bobby told him, 'We won't, we don't have enough units.
It's not safe, we're going back to the West Wing,' the President had a very strong, very angry reply.
Tony has described him as angry.
The President said something like, 'I'm the damn President.
Take me to the Capitol now,' to which Bobby replied, 'Sir, we have to go back to the West Wing.
‹ The President then got into the front of the vehicle to grab the steering wheel.
Mr. Engel held his arm and said, 'Sir, you must take your hand off the wheel.
We're going back to the West Wing, not the Capitol.' Mr. Trump then slapped Bobby Engel with his free hand.
And when Mr. Ornato told me this story, he pointed towards his collarbone.”
Lizz Cheney, Committee Chair:
"And was Mr. Engel in the room when Mr. Ornato told you this story?"
Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House staffer:
"Yes."
Lizz Cheney, Committee Chair:
"Did Mr. Engel contradict or correct any part of Mr. Ornato's story?"
Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House staffer:
"Mr.
Engel has not contradicted or corrected any part of this story.”
Hutchinson also charged Trump with further remarks.
Apparently, the president knew that some of his supporters who came to his speech and then headed to the Capitol were carrying guns.
It angered him that his security guards wouldn't let these people onto the premises.
She reported this in a recorded survey or the hearing.
Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House staffer:
"While we were offstage in a tent, I was standing close to a conversation where I overheard the President saying something like, 'I don't give a damn, that they have guns.
You are not here to harm me.
Take away the damn metal detectors.
Let my people in, they can march to the Capitol from here.
Let them in and take the damn barriers down.'"
While the violence around the Capitol had already begun, several close associates are said to have tried to persuade the president to intervene, including his son Donald Trump Jr. and his daughter Ivanka.
Hutchinson recalls a conversation between White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House aide:
"I remember Pat saying something like, 'The rioters have arrived at the Capitol, Mark, we need to go down and see the President now.' And Mark looks up and says, ' He doesn't want to do anything, Pat.' And Pat very clearly says to Mark something like, 'Mark, something has to be done or people are going to die and the blood is going to be on our damn fingers.
This is getting out of control.
I'm going down there now.'"
When Trump finally released a speech in which he cautiously called the rioters to order, the president probably originally wanted to say something else.
Liz Cheney:
One other thing about the speech, Ms. Hutchinson.
Did you hear that Mr. Trump meanwhile wanted to add that he wanted to pardon all those who took part in the January 6 riots?”
Cassidy Hutchinson, Former White House Staffer:
Yes, I heard that.
And I understand Mr. Meadows approved of that as well.”
Hutchinson's statement could be very important for a possible trial.
The call to go to the Capitol to fight alleged voter fraud, coupled with the knowledge that some of his supporters were carrying guns — could be a criminal offense and make Trump part of a conspiracy against the US government.
Attorney General Merrick Garland must decide that, but the work of the Congressional Committee is not over.