Grand Jury Returns No Bill in Cassidy Hutchinson Prosecution Case

A federal grand jury in Washington returned a no bill on Tuesday, rejecting the Justice Department's effort to indict Cassidy Hutchinson. The jury declined to charge the former White House aide on criminal counts related to her testimony about President Donald Trump's actions on January 6, 2021.

A senior U.S. official confirmed the outcome to NBC News after the jury's decision. The official noted that Hutchinson's name was not read aloud in the courtroom when the no bill was announced, but the case was identified as hers. Attorneys for Hutchinson and the Justice Department did not immediately comment on the decision.

The investigation focused on statements Hutchinson made in 2022 before the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. She served as a senior aide to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Her testimony included accounts of Trump urging the removal of metal detectors near his speaking area and asserting that attendees had weapons.

Hutchinson also testified that Trump attempted to steer the presidential limousine toward the Capitol despite a Secret Service official's refusal. She stated that the president grabbed the steering wheel and a bodyguard's throat during the incident. Secret Service officials later denied that specific account, while Hutchinson has maintained her testimony was truthful.

The case was handled by the Civil Rights Division, which is led by Trump appointee Harmeet Dhillon. The division typically enforces federal civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. This failure to secure an indictment adds to a series of denials in cases involving individuals Trump has identified as political opponents.

The Justice Department has investigated Senator Adam Schiff, former CIA Director John Brennan, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former FBI Director James Comey. Indictment efforts against James were denied three separate times. The department also failed to indict six Democratic members of Congress over a social media video.

Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC News in April that the failed prosecutions showed the department was working hard. He stated that grand jurors do not always make the right decision and that some cases remain under investigation. A new policy issued this year requires the Justice Department to notify the magistrate judge when a grand jury rejects an indictment attempt.

The jury heard evidence against Hutchinson in early October. The decision comes as Trump has moved to redefine the narrative around the January 6 attack. He pardoned the rioters on his first day in office and reached an agreement for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, which was later canceled.