Republicans in the House of Representatives have formed a new select committee to once again investigate the deadly riots that President Donald Trump incited at the United States Capitol four years ago.
However, the new committee's work might not feature Cassidy Hutchinson, the star witness of the first January 6th Committee that held public hearings about the riots back in 2022.
The reason, reports the Washington Post, is that an aide to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned last year that subpoenaing Hutchinson to testify could have unearthed "sexually explicit" text messages she had received from Republican House members.
The Johnson aide warned against the subpoena after Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) floated bringing her back to Capitol Hill to confront her past interactions with former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), who cochaired the first January 6th Committee.
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"Before that meeting, a Johnson aide told Loudermilk’s staff that multiple colleagues had raised concerns with the speaker’s office about the potential for public disclosure of 'sexual texts from members who were trying to engage in sexual favors' with Hutchinson," reports the Post. "Separately, a member of Johnson’s staff told Loudermilk aides that Hutchinson could “potentially reveal embarrassing information."
Bill Jordan, an attorney representing Hutchinson, told the Post that his client would not be intimidated by House Republicans' efforts to tar her reputation.
"Ms. Hutchinson has testified truthfully and stands behind every word despite the efforts of men in powerful positions to attack her,” Jordan said.