Grand jury rejects indictment against ex-Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson over Jan. 6 testimony

A federal grand jury on Tuesday rejected an indictment against Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide who served President Donald Trump during his first term. Justice Department prosecutors from the Civil Rights Division had sought to charge her with making false statements based on her testimony about the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a federal prosecutor informed a magistrate judge in Washington, D.C., that the grand jury issued a “non-concurrence,” meaning most jurors did not agree to indict. This was the only such rejection that day.

“A noncurrence means a majority of the grand jurors failed to reach agreement to indict.”

Hutchinson, 29, worked as an aide to then-chief of staff Mark Meadows and testified before the House January 6 committee in June 2022. Her account described Trump’s awareness of armed rally supporters, his alleged attempt to seize the presidential vehicle, and his anger after then-Attorney General Bill Barr said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Secret Service agents later disputed parts of her account, and Hutchinson said she learned about the vehicle incident from another White House official rather than witnessing it herself. Her testimony remained central to the congressional investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Hutchinson’s attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Some Justice Department employees believed there was insufficient evidence for a viable criminal case, while lawmakers from both parties urged the department to abandon its investigation.

Grand jury rejections are rare because prosecutors need only show probable cause that a crime occurred. Since Trump took office, grand juries have declined charges in cases involving former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and six lawmakers who urged service members to disobey illegal orders.