Why did a Washington grand jury refuse to indict Cassidy Hutchinson after prosecutors challenged her 2022 congressional testimony?

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A Washington grand jury refused to indict Cassidy Hutchinson because prosecutors did not win enough support from jurors to establish probable cause that she criminally lied in her 2022 congressional testimony. The panel returned what is known as a “no bill” or “non-concurrence,” meaning a majority did not agree to approve the indictment the Justice Department sought. That does not mean the grand jury found Hutchinson truthful; it means the government failed, at this stage, to persuade jurors that criminal charges should go forward. The case centered on claims that Hutchinson made false statements to the House committee investigating Jan. 6, including disputed testimony about Donald Trump’s conduct and a secondhand account that he reacted angrily when told he could not go to the Capitol. Parts of that testimony were challenged by other witnesses, including Secret Service personnel, but reporting also indicates some Justice Department officials questioned whether the evidence was strong enough to prove she knowingly lied. That distinction mattered. To indict for false statements or perjury, prosecutors generally must show not just that testimony was inaccurate or disputed, but that the witness intentionally made false statements. Hutchinson has continued to say she stands by her testimony. The refusal to indict ends the current attempt to charge her, though it does not necessarily prevent prosecutors from trying again or pursuing another route.

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Cassidy Hutchinson Over 2022 Jan. 6 Testimony

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Grand Jury Declines to Indict Cassidy Hutchinson Over 2022 Jan. 6 Testimony

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