Trump allegedly lunged at security detail on Jan. 6, top aide testifies
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified Tuesday that former President Trump allegedly lunged at his top security detail on Jan. 6 and tried to grab the steering wheel from him.
Driving the news: Trump had a "very strong, very angry response" when he learned that he was not going to the Capitol, Hutchinson testified.
- "I'm the f---ing president, take me up to the Capitol now," Trump said, according to Hutchinson who said Anthony Ornato, the former White House chief of operations shared the details of the story with her, adding that the former president then grabbed the steering wheel and lunged at his security detail, Robert Engel.
Between the lines: Hutchinson also testified that Ornato shared details on the confrontation with Engel present — and he did not dispute the information.
- "When Mr. Ornato had recounted this story to me, he had motioned toward his clavicle," Hutchinson also said.
Trump denied Hutchinson's testimony, writing on his social media platform Truth Social: "Her Fake story that I tried to grab the steering wheel of the White House Limousine in order to steer it to the Capitol Building is 'sick' and fraudulent, very much like the Unselect Committee itself."
- "Wouldn't even have been possible to do such a ridiculous thing," he wrote.
- The Secret Service allegation in particular has not been corroborated by other testimony.
- When asked if the committee verified the incident with Ornato or Engel, Raskin said: “Speaking as one member of the committee, the evidence I have seen is the evidence that you have seen.”
- Asked if Ornato has sat for closed-door testimony: “No comment on that”
Go deeper: Meadows said Trump felt Pence "deserves" to be hanged, former top aide testifies
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.
