Grand Jury Rejects DOJ Indictment Bid Against Cassidy Hutchinson

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., rejected the Department of Justice's request to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson over testimony she gave to congressional investigators about Donald Trump's conduct during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Washington Post reported the decision Tuesday, October 27, 2026, citing statements made in federal court.

Senior Justice Department lawyer Neville Hadley informed Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui in open court Tuesday afternoon that the grand jury had declined to approve the requested indictment, according to The Washington Post. Hadley did not identify Hutchinson as the intended target during his remarks, the newspaper reported.

MS NOW also confirmed the development, citing two people familiar with the case. According to the outlet, prosecutors in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division sought criminal charges based on allegations that Hutchinson had made false statements.

Hutchinson testified before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack in June 2022. Her testimony included an account of an incident involving Trump inside his presidential vehicle, known as The Beast, after he addressed supporters at a rally outside the White House before the Capitol attack.

During her congressional testimony, Hutchinson said former White House official Tony Ornato questioned her about what had happened inside the vehicle.

"Did you effing hear what happened in [the president's vehicle,] The Beast?" Hutchinson recalled Ornato asking her.

Hutchinson testified that Ornato told her Trump had expected to travel to the Capitol after the rally. According to her account, that expectation followed discussions with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who had been told Trump intended to go there during his speech to supporters.

Hutchinson also described how Robert Engel, who led Trump's security detail, responded when the president sought to go to the Capitol. Engel said the area was not secure, according to the account she attributed to Ornato.

Hutchinson testified that Ornato described Trump's reaction to Engel's refusal as follows:

"had a very strong, a very angry response to that," Hutchinson testified, recounting Ornato's description of Trump's reaction.

In her account, Hutchinson said Ornato characterized Trump's emotional state during the exchange in the vehicle.

"Tony described him as being irate," Hutchinson said, recounting Ornato's account of the incident.

Hutchinson further testified that Ornato told her Trump demanded to be taken to the Capitol despite the security concerns.

"I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now," Hutchinson recalled, attributing the statement to Trump through Ornato's account.

According to Hutchinson's testimony, Engel again refused to drive Trump to the Capitol. She said Ornato described Trump reaching toward the vehicle's steering wheel before Engel intervened.

"reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm, said, 'Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing,'" Hutchinson testified, recounting Ornato's description of the confrontation.

Hutchinson also told the committee that Ornato described a further movement toward the head of Trump's security detail.

"then used his free hand to lunge toward Bobby Engel," Hutchinson said, recounting what Ornato had told her.

The January 6 attack delayed congressional proceedings to confirm Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election for several hours. Hutchinson's June 2022 testimony formed part of the House Select Committee's investigation into the attack and Trump's conduct surrounding it.