GOP. Rep Adam Kinzinger says Cassidy Hutchinson is a 'hero' and has 'more courage than most' Republicans after January 6 testimony
- Kinzinger said Cassidy Hutchinson is a "hero" with "more courage than most" Republicans.
- Hutchinson offered explosive testimony to the January 6 committee this week.
GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois on Thursday applauded Cassidy Hutchinson for her testimony to the January 6 committee, saying the former top aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has "more courage" than most of his Republican colleagues.
"Cassidy Hutchinson is a hero and a real patriot (not a faux 'patriot' that hates America so much they would attempt a coup.)," Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, said in a tweet.
"Of course they will try to bully and intimidate her. But she isn't intimidated. More courage than most in GOP," Kinzinger added of Hutchinson.
Hutchinson earlier this week offered explosive, damning testimony to the House committee investigating January 6, when former President Donald Trump's supporters violently stormed the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.
She testified that Trump lunged at a Secret Service agent and tried to grab the wheel of an SUV while demanding to be taken to the Capitol. Trump was ultimately not taken down to the scene of the riot.
Hutchinson in her testimony said that Tony Ornato, the White House deputy chief of staff, recalled the altercation to her right after it occurred.
"I noticed the head of Mr. Trump's security detail sitting in a chair, looking somewhat discombobulated, a little lost," Hutchinson said. "I looked at Tony, he said, 'Did you effing hear what happened in the Beast?' I said, 'No, Tony, I just got back, what happened?'"
"Tony proceeded to tell me that when the president got in the Beast, he was under the impression from Mr. Meadows that the off-the-record movement to the Capitol was still possible and likely to happen but that Bobby had more information," Hutchinson went on to say. "As the president had gotten into the vehicle with Bobby, he thought that they were going up to the Capitol. And when Bobby had relayed to him that we're not; we don't have the assets to do it; it's not secure; we're going back to the West Wing, the president had a very strong, very angry response to that."
Trump then "said something to the effect of, 'I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now,'" to which Bobby responded, "Sir, we have to go back to the West Wing," per Hutchinson's testimony.
Hutchinson also testified that Trump was aware that some of his supporters who attended his speech near the White House on January 6 were armed, but didn't care. Trump was concerned about filling in the crowd space, according to her testimony, and suggested that metal detectors be taken away.
Trump "wanted it full and he was angry that we weren't letting people through the mags with weapons," Hutchinson said, referencing metal detectors used by the Secret Service.
"But when we were in the offstage tent, I was in the vicinity of a conversation where I overheard the president say something to the effect of, '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. Let the people in. Take the effing mags away," Hutchinson added.
In a speech prior to the fatal riot on January 6, Trump encouraged the rallygoers to march on the Capitol and "fight like hell." He was ultimately impeached for a second time over his role in fomenting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol, which was fueled by Trump's lies about the 2020 election.
Trump lashed out at Hutchinson over her testimony, calling her a "total phony" and "third rate social climber." The former president's criticism of Hutchinson came in the form of online commentary, while her statements on January 6 were delivered under oath.