Cross Examining Cassidy Hutchinson Would Backfire For Trump, Kirschner Says

A cross examination of Cassidy Hutchinson, who was a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, would not be in former President Donald Trump's best interests, according to a former federal prosecutor.

Hutchinson testified to the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot during a live public hearing over the summer, detailing some explosive allegations about Trump's movements and conversations surrounding the attack. Trump lashed out at Hutchinson following the explosive testimony, calling her a "total phony," accusing her of lying and saying that he hardly knew who she was.

In additional closed-door testimony with the January 6 panel that was made public on Thursday, Hutchinson revealed that Stefan Passantino, a former Trump White House ethics counsel who ended up representing her after she was subpoenaed, allegedly advised her to provide succinct answers and not be completely forthcoming about events that she witnessed. Additionally, Hutchinson said that while she was in contact with the House committee, Trump allies allegedly offered her potential job opportunities and even to front her money during a job search.

An aide and friend to Meadows, Ben Williamson, also allegedly told Hutchinson the night before one interview with the committee, "Well, Mark wants me to let you know that he knows you're loyal and he knows you'll do the right thing tomorrow and that you're going to protect him and the boss. You know, he knows that we're all on the same team and we're all a family."

Kirschner said during an appearance on Stand Up! With Pete Dominick on Friday that in potential January 6-related criminal cases against Trump or his allies, Hutchinson will take the stand to testify about what she saw and knows.

In the testimony where Hutchinson discussed her interactions with Passantino and Williamson, she spoke about how she thought she "handled some things wrong" and had not answered some questions in her first interview with the committee. She said that she felt a "moral struggle" because she felt like she had to be loyal to Trump and Meadows and had Passantino right next to her the whole time, but she ultimately decided that her loyalties remain with the truth.

Kirschner said that she would be cross-examined if she became a witness and could be asked why she was "equivocal" in her early work with the committee. Hutchinson could counter that she had "a corrupt lawyer telling me to lie," and on top of that, she could point out that Passantino's counsel was being paid for by Trump allies and she was "scared to death" Kirschner said.

Trump has not been hit with any criminal charges related to the January 6 attack, but the House panel did criminally refer him to the Justice Department. Only the Justice Department can ultimately decide whether to prosecute the former president.

Newsweek reached out to Hutchinson's counsel for comment.