Federal Prosecutors Consider Perjury and Obstruction Charges Against Cassidy Hutchinson

Federal prosecutors are considering whether to bring perjury and obstruction of justice charges against Cassidy Hutchinson, who testified four years ago that President Donald Trump was involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Justice Department Weighs Potential Charges

The effort signals that the Justice Department may move forward with a case against Hutchinson, a former aide to Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Prosecutors are not expected to ask a federal grand jury in Washington to return an indictment until at least after the midterm elections, sources said.

Hutchinson was a prominent witness for the committee that investigated the Capitol riot. In her testimony, she said Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol even though he knew that many of them were armed.

In addition to her public testimony, Hutchinson gave several interviews in which she recalled hearing that Trump lunged at a Secret Service agent after being told he could not join his supporters at the Capitol.

Prosecutors Examine Changes in Hutchinson’s Testimony

In recent months, Justice Department prosecutors have focused on claims that former special counsel Jack Smith did not corroborate many of Hutchinson’s accounts before the committee. Prosecutors have also examined the Secret Service’s denial that an altercation occurred inside the presidential limousine, according to sources.

Sources said prosecutors are comparing transcripts of Hutchinson’s committee interviews with testimony that Smith gave to her legal team as they examine how her account may have changed.

Prosecutors are also taking particular interest in Hutchinson’s claim that he wrote a statement on a notecard for release to Trump during the Capitol riot. That claim was disputed by Trump’s former White House adviser Eric Herschmann, who said he was writing a note.

Possible Indictment Remains Unclear

It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors ultimately intended to pursue both perjury and obstruction charges. Both charges have reportedly been under consideration for months.

The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Hutchinson and her attorney also did not respond to text messages or phone calls seeking comment. Hutchinson, now 29, has maintained a low profile since her testimony. In 2023, she published a memoir about the first Trump administration, Enough.

Punchbowl News first reported that the Justice Department was interested in prosecuting Hutchinson.

Broader Political Context

The grand jury investigation is the latest example of the Justice Department pursuing criminal proceedings against people considered political opponents of President Trump.

Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi in April, in part because lawsuits were brought too slowly, according to people familiar with the matter.