A recent report has disclosed that prominent Republican lawmakers opted not to issue a subpoena to former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson during their inquiry into the events of January 6, 2021, purportedly to prevent the revelation of potentially damaging personal communications. Advisors to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly discouraged attempts to summon Hutchinson for testimony, expressing concerns that explicit messages from certain lawmakers to Hutchinson could be made public.
This information emerges as Johnson, who has recently reinstated the GOP-led investigation into the Capitol events, is under scrutiny regarding the investigation’s direction and purpose. Johnson’s office also actively counseled Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), who was conducting a concurrent investigation, against the issuance of a subpoena to Hutchinson.
The rationale behind this decision was that calling Hutchinson to testify could enable her to reiterate her previous assertions, potentially causing embarrassment for Trump’s allies in Congress. Sources familiar with the internal discussions within the GOP informed The Washington Post that Loudermilk had initially contemplated subpoenaing Hutchinson, believing she could provide valuable insights into the committee’s Democratic-led investigation.
However, prior to a scheduled meeting, an aide to Johnson alerted Loudermilk’s team that several colleagues had expressed concerns to the speaker’s office about the possibility of “sexual texts from members attempting to solicit sexual favors” from Hutchinson becoming public, as indicated by correspondence from that time which documented the discussions.
A member of Johnson’s team communicated to Loudermilk’s aides that Hutchinson, who served as an assistant to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, might reveal “potentially embarrassing information,” as noted in an email reviewed by The Post and corroborated by two additional sources.
Hutchinson attracted national attention in 2022 when she provided testimony before the January 6 Committee, making a series of allegations regarding former President Donald Trump’s conduct on that day—many of which have since been thoroughly examined.
Speaker Johnson addressed the matter during a press conference on Thursday, minimizing the significance of the choice to forgo Hutchinson’s testimony. Despite his reassurances, critics contend that the decision to evade a subpoena for Hutchinson may indicate that some congressional members prioritized self-protection over uncovering the complete truth regarding the events of January 6.
Frustration has also emerged within the GOP regarding this decision, with some members asserting that the investigation should be thorough and exhaustive.
In response to an inquiry from The Post, Hutchinson’s attorney, Bill Jordan, chose not to comment on the purported texts and emphasized that his client has cooperated fully with the investigation. “Ms. Hutchinson has testified truthfully and stands by every statement, despite the attempts of powerful individuals to undermine her,” stated Jordan.
Hutchinson, a former aide to Mark Meadows, emerged as a pivotal witness in the January 6 investigation, offering detailed accounts of President Trump’s actions. Reports indicated that former Rep. Liz Cheney contacted Hutchinson directly without her attorney’s awareness, raising ethical questions. Cheney allegedly suggested new legal representation for Hutchinson, after which her testimony became more comprehensive, including assertions that were subsequently contested.
Significantly, Hutchinson claimed that Trump attempted to seize the steering wheel to head to the Capitol, a statement that has been disputed by others. In light of this, a House Republican panel has called for a federal criminal investigation into Cheney for possible witness tampering, a charge she has denied.
Rep. Loudermilk, who has recently been appointed to lead a new select subcommittee focused on the ongoing January 6 investigation, refrained from directly addressing whether concerns regarding lawmakers’ personal messages influenced the decision to bypass Hutchinson’s testimony.
He responded, “I have no idea,” when asked if he was aware of any members who had sent personal messages to Hutchinson.
