A low-level White House staffer told a headline-grabbing story about a president assaulting Secret Service just before the 2021 Capitol riot.
Cassidy Hutchinson Tuesday replied to questioning by House Select J6 Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and her testimony created immediate controversy. Cheney had asked her to recount an alleged discussion she claimed occurred with Secret Service agent Anthony Ornato on Jan. 6, 2021.
Hutchinson described how Ornato motioned her into his office when she returned to the White House as rioters were in the nation’s Capitol. She said Ornato informed her former President Donald Trump allegedly became irate when the agent driving “The Beast” said they were returning to the West Wing.
After agent Robert Engel relayed their destination, the former president became irate, according to Hutchinson. She said Ornato told her that Trump cursed at Engel, saying he was the president and they would go where he said. The former Mark Meadows aide said Ornato told her the 45th president lunged towards the front of the presidential limousine she called The Beast and got one hand on the steering wheel.
The Associated Press posted an excerpt of Hutchinson’s hearing testimony where she recounts her version of what transpired while Trump was being driven from his Washington, D.C., speech. Later the same day, the news organization posted a follow-up thread that seemed to dispute the credibility of Hutchinson’s testimony:
“Bobby Engel, the agent who was driving the presidential SUV, and Trump security official Tony Ornato are willing to testify under oath that no agent was assaulted and Trump never lunged for the steering wheel, a person familiar with the matter said.”
Podcaster Dan Bongino, who served with the Secret Service for 12 years, also rushed to refute Hutchinson’s testimony earlier Tuesday. He posted a comment to his Twitter page saying he was pretty confident that the story was either false or extremely exaggerated. Bongino urged followers to tune in for Wednesday’s podcast for a detailed explanation of why he doubted the former staffer.
Wednesday, the podcaster explained that the former president did not leave the rally in The Beast, so it would have been impossible for Hutchinson’s story to be true. He showed video of vehicles leaving from behind the grandstand where Trump spoke, and he points to a seal on the door of an SUV in the motorcade.
Bongino, reminding his audience he served two of his Secret Service years in the transportation division, declared the magnetic seal is only attached to the vehicle carrying the president.
Watch:
Kyle-Becker-Dan-Bongino-really-seals-the-deal-on-why-Cassidy-Hutchinson-s-story-can-t-possibly-be-true-And-he-uses-video
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