Key Takeaways from the Sixth January 6 Hearing

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On Tuesday, June 28, the nonpartisan January 6 Committee held its sixth public hearing. The Committee heard testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows. Hutchinson described the key moments and events in the White House leading up to, on, and following the violent attack on January 6.

Common Cause compiled the key takeaways:

1. Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani knew as early as January 2 that there could be violence on January 6.

Rudy Giuliani told White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, “Cass, are you excited for the 6th? It’s going to be a great day.”

When she followed up with Mark Meadows, he responded “There’s a lot going on Cass, but I don’t know, things might get real, real bad on January 6th.” #jan6 pic.twitter.com/I9fi8bf9NI

— Common Cause (@CommonCause) June 28, 2022

2. White House staff was informed that there were planned demonstrations and a potential for violence in the days leading up to January 6.

“The White House continued to receive updates about planned demonstrations — including information regarding the Proud Boys organizing and planning to attend events on January 6th.” #January6thCommitteeHearings

— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) June 28, 2022

3. The morning of January 6, Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, were told that Trump rally-goers were dressed in military-style gear, carrying radio equipment, and armed with AR-15s, knives, spears, body armor, and other weapons.

Cassidy Hutchinson says former chief of staff Mark Meadows didn't look up from his phone as his deputy chief of staff, Tony Ornato, detailed that a number of people on the Mall on January 6th had weapons including AR-15 rifles, oversized sticks, bear spray, & military backpacks.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 28, 2022

Cassidy Hutchinson says Donald Trump was told about rally-goers having weapons before the events of Jan. 6.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 28, 2022

4. When Donald Trump learned that individuals in the crowd with weapons weren’t being allowed into the rally, Trump told staff to get rid of the metal detectors, told staff those bringing weapons weren’t there “to hurt me,” and instructed staff to “let my people in.”

Hutchinson paraphrasing Trump at Jan 6 rally: “I don’t F**ing care if [people unable to get into the rally] have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me. Take the F***in [magnetometers] away. Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here." #January6thCommitteeHearings

— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) June 28, 2022

Trump on the morning of January 6: “I don’t F’ing care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me. Take the mags away.

Let my people in. They can march the Capitol from here.” pic.twitter.com/JMCrZsXZ5J

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) June 28, 2022

5. At his rally on January 6, Donald Trump, knowing the crowd had weapons and body armor, instructed them to march to the U.S. Capitol, where Congress was certifying the votes of the 2020 election. Trump wanted to join them at the Capitol.

.@KatyTurNBC on Trump: "He knew they were going to the Capitol. He wanted to go to the Capitol as well! He knew this was all going to happen." pic.twitter.com/MWzQZMNClf

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) June 28, 2022

6. White House staff and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy instructed Trump’s staff not to let Trump go to the U.S. Capitol, predicting Trump would be charged with crimes.

NEW: Cassidy Hutchinson testifies that WH lawyer Cipollone told her on Jan. 6 don’t let Trump go to the Capitol because “we’re going to get charged with every crime imaginable” including defrauding the electoral count or obstruction.

— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) June 28, 2022

Former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson testifies about what Trump WH counsel Pat Cipollone told her on the morning of January 6th:

“Please make sure we don’t go up to the Capitol … We’re going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen.” pic.twitter.com/Z7qNvIfRvi

— The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2022

7. In the car just after the January 6 rally, Trump demanded he be taken to the U.S. Capitol. When staff objected, Trump reached to grab the steering wheel and then a secret service agent’s neck, saying, “I’m the f-ing president, take me to the Capitol.”

(!) Cassidy Hutchinson says Pres Trump *grabbed* a Secret Service agent's neck & limo steering wheel as he angrily insisted to that he be driven to the Capitol. She says Trump said, "I'm the F'ing President…Take me to the Capitol."

Violence had already broken out & SS refused.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) June 28, 2022

Donald Trump, when told he could not go to the Capitol on Jan. 6: "I'm the fucking president. Take me up to the Capitol now," Cassidy Hutchinson testifies

Trump then reached to grab the steering wheel. A USSS agent said, "Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel."

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 28, 2022

8. When a White House aide told Mark Meadows the rioters were chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” Mark Meadows refused to take any action, saying Trump didn’t think the rioters were doing anything wrong.

Bombshell testimony: Pat Cipollone goes to Mark Meadows as the Capitol is being breached saying they need to go get Trump ASAP.

Meadows responds:
“He doesn’t want to do anything Pat.”

Cipollone: "People are going to die and the blood is going to be on your f-ing hands.”

— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) June 28, 2022

Former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson recalls 1/6 exchange between Meadows and WH counsel Pat Cipollone:

Cipollone: “They’re literally calling for the vice president to be f-ing hung.”

Meadows: “[Trump] thinks Mike [Pence] deserves it.”

Cipollone: “This is f-ing crazy.” pic.twitter.com/UQvIC61BpA

— The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2022

9. Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. wanted their father, Donald Trump, to tell rioters to leave the U.S. Capitol.

CH: Ivanka wanted Trump to send the rioters home. Tell them go to home. Include language that he wouldn't use. #HATH

— Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) (@HC_Richardson) June 28, 2022

10. Kevin McCarthy and many other Trump loyalists also urged Trump to send the rioters home.

When Rep. McCarthy couldn't convince Trump to call off the attack, he called into Fox News first, and then CBS and ABC, trying to get through to Trump via the TV.

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 28, 2022

Sean Hannity text to Kayleigh McEnany: pic.twitter.com/W2NWqTG28A

— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) June 28, 2022

Those close to Trump urgently requested he send the rioters home.

It would have been easy and it would have saved lives. But he refused to act. pic.twitter.com/1YpDE55QY4

— CAP Action (@CAPAction) June 28, 2022

11. After the violent January 6 riot, Trump was “reluctant” to film a video asking for peace and for the rioters to leave the U.S. Capitol.

Staff, including deputy White House Counsel, prepared a draft of *pre-taped* speech for Trump to give to the nation on Jan 7

Rep Cheney says committee has learned Trump disagreed with substance of draft and resisted giving speech at all

— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) June 28, 2022

Hutchinson says she drafted a statement for Trump to stand down rioters from "illegal" or "without legal authority" action. Trump sent it back scratched out and never took action.

— Todd Zwillich (@toddzwillich) June 28, 2022

Though he mostly stuck to the prepared remarks in his public address the day after the attack on the Capitol, per Rep. Cheney: “the President still couldn’t bring himself to say ‘this election is over.’” #January6thCommitteeHearings

— Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) June 28, 2022

12. Following January 6, Trump’s Cabinet discussed removing him from power with the 25th Amendment.

The 25th Amendment has never been used to remove a President.

But we’ve learned that after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, it was being discussed by members of President Trump’s cabinet as a way of stripping the full power of the presidency from Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/phTKttVM9P

— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) June 28, 2022

Cheney on 25th Amendment: "The committee has learned that after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, this was being discussed by members of President Trump's Cabinet as a way of stripping the full power of the presidency from Donald Trump."

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 28, 2022

13. Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows joined multiple members of Congress in seeking a pardon related to the events of January 6.

Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows indicated they were interested in getting a presidential pardon after Jan. 6th, Cassidy Hutchinson testifies.

— Carrie Johnson (@johnson_carrie) June 28, 2022

14. Someone connected to President Trump has been tampering with January 6 Committee witnesses in an effort to continue to hide the planning and promoting of January 6.

We commonly ask witnesses connected to Trump whether they have been contacted by anyone attempting to impact testimony.

Below are examples of answers we have received to this question. pic.twitter.com/pwxyJBf7Kl

— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) June 28, 2022

Mulvaney, Trump’s third chief of staff, tweets that the last part of today’s hearing suggesting there has been witness tampering may be the most perilous for his ex-boss: "If there is hard evidence, that is a serious problem for the former President."

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 28, 2022

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To visit the nonpartisan January 6 Committee’s website, click here.