Cassidy Hutchinson, former aide to ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, delivered a shocking testimony before the Jan. 6 committee on Tuesday, revealing, among other bombshells, that former President Donald Trump was "irate" he wasn't permitted to visit the Capitol on Jan. 6, and even allegedly grabbed the steering wheel of the presidential limo in anger.
Deputy Chief of Staff Tony Ornato told Hutchinson that when the president got into his limo, he believed he was being taken to the Capitol in an "off-the-record movement," Hutchinson said. Secret Service agent Bobby Engel then informed Trump he couldn't go to the Capitol because it was not secure, she added.
But "the president had a very strong, very angry response to that. Tony described him as being irate," Hutchinson went on. "The president said something to the effect of, 'I'm the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Bobby responded, 'Sir, we have to go back to the West Wing,'" the ex-aide continued. "The president reached up toward the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel. Mr. Engel grabbed his arm and said, 'Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel. We're going back to the West Wing. We're not going to the Capitol.' Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel and when Mr. Ornato [recounted] this story to me, he motioned toward his clavicles."
Hutchinson also noted Engel was in the room when Ornato told her what happened, and that he did not dispute Ornato's account.
Update June 29, 2022: While Hutchinson testified she was told that Trump reached for the steering wheel of "the Beast" — which refers to the presidential limo — new information suggests that any such incident would have actually taken place in the presidential SUV.
-
Is hate speech still protected speech?Talking Points Pam Bondi's threat to target hate speech raises concerns
-
‘Mental health care is health care’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
6 Broadway shows coming to a local theater near youThe Week Recommends Harry Potter makes an appearance. As do the wives of Henry VIII.
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to TrumpSpeed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raidsSpeed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raidSpeed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearingSpeed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mountSpeed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own listspeed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battleSpeed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
