Prosecutors within the US Justice Department's civil rights division are reportedly seeking criminal charges against Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide in the Trump White House. The potential charges are said to involve lying to Congress, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Hutchinson provided testimony to the committee that investigated the US Capitol attack. Among her statements, she recounted being told that former President Trump did not wish to return to the White House on January 6 and, at one point, attempted to grab the steering wheel of his SUV to join supporters at the Capitol. This account has been disputed by Republicans.
The Justice Department's efforts to indict Hutchinson were initially reported by Punchbowl News on Thursday. A department spokesperson stated that the department "does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations, or the lack thereof."
The New York Times reported in April that prosecutors in the civil rights division had been assigned to investigate Hutchinson, a move considered unusual as such investigations typically fall under the US attorney for the District of Columbia. Hutchinson herself also indicated she was under investigation by the Justice Department in filings related to an unrelated case.