Federal Grand Jury Rejects Justice Department Bid to Indict Cassidy Hutchinson

A federal grand jury in Washington on Tuesday declined to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, rejecting a Justice Department request to charge her over her 2022 congressional testimony.

Prosecutors in the department’s Civil Rights Division sought the indictment based on allegations that Hutchinson provided false statements regarding President Donald Trump’s conduct during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

In a brief court appearance, a prosecutor told Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui that the panel had submitted a “non-concurrence,” a procedural term for a rejected indictment.

The development represents a rare failure for federal prosecutors, as grand juries typically approve charges when presented with evidence of alleged crimes.

The case stems from Hutchinson’s role as a key witness for the House Select Committee that investigated the Capitol attack, where she detailed Trump’s actions and private remarks.

“The grand jurors don’t get everything right, just like nobody gets everything right all the time,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said in April regarding previous failed indictment attempts.

Hutchinson testified that she was told by a White House official that Trump became irate when security personnel refused to drive him to the Capitol on January 6.

She claimed that Trump attempted to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle and lunged at a security agent, an account that Secret Service officials have denied.

Hutchinson also alleged that Trump demanded the removal of metal detectors at his rally, stating, “I don’t effing care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized Hutchinson, calling her a “scam artist” and suggesting she should be prosecuted for perjury regarding her testimony before the committee.

The Justice Department has faced similar difficulties in other cases involving individuals identified by the administration as political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey.

The grand jury’s refusal to indict does not legally prevent the Justice Department from attempting to bring charges against Hutchinson again in the future.