The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol held a surprise hearing Tuesday where it heard testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Hutchinson said former President Donald Trump wanted Secret Service agents to stop using metal detecting magnetometers during his rally on the day of the insurrection. Hutchison recalled how the president had directed his staff to “let my people in” despite being told that some were carrying weapons.
Hutchinson testified that she recalls Trump saying, “I don’t effing care that they have weapons.”
“They’re not here to hurt me. Take the effing mags away. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here,” she added, recounting what Trump had said about the thousands of supporters who had gathered at the Ellipse, behind the White House in Washington, D.C.
The testimony from Hutchinson touched on a variety of issues leading up to, during and after the attack on the Capitol.
Today’s hearing was announced unexpectedly by the committee Monday and little detail was given prior to its start. The committee originally said it would resume hearings in July, but said the evidence it had compelled them to hold a hearing sooner.
This post was produced and edited by Tim McPhillips, Joshua Barajas and Matt Rasnic.
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