DOJ Considers Perjury Charges Against Former Trump Aide Cassidy Hutchinson

Federal prosecutors are weighing a perjury and obstruction-of-justice case against Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinson testified before the congressional committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, alleging that President Donald Trump encouraged supporters to march to the Capitol and that he lunged at a Secret Service agent after being told he could not join the crowd.

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CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig warned that proving perjury “beyond a reasonable doubt” will be difficult. He noted that a perjury charge requires showing a specific answer that was both false and intentionally so, and that Hutchinson’s testimony often included statements such as “this is hearsay” or “someone told me.” Honig said the case may hinge on “he-said-she-said” disputes that are hard for prosecutors to meet.

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According to two sources familiar with the matter, prosecutors have focused on inconsistencies between Hutchinson’s committee testimony and her interviews with former special counsel Jack Smith’s team, as well as the Secret Service’s denial of any altercation in the presidential limousine. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has already presented evidence to a federal grand jury and plans to submit additional evidence and witnesses later this month. Prosecutors do not expect a grand-jury indictment until after the upcoming midterm elections.

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• “DOJ’s Civil Rights Division brought evidence to a federal grand jury on Tuesday and is expected to present more evidence and additional witnesses later this month, per sources familiar with the plans. Hutchinson has not been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury, per the sources,” — Punchbowl News’s Laura Weiss

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These developments reflect the Justice Department’s intent to pursue criminal liability for alleged false statements made to Congress, while legal experts caution that the evidentiary burden remains high.

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