The Trump administration Justice Department suffered a massive setback on Tuesday, as a federal grand jury refused to indict former GOP aide Cassidy Hutchinson on charges of lying to Congress.
Hutchinson was a star witness for the House January 6 Committee, where she testified, among much else, that Trump demanded removal of the magnetometers on Capitol Hill to allow rioters in, and physically wrestled with his driver for the steering wheel to go join them. Other members of Trump's administration have disputed this account.
She was first reported as being a target for indictment earlier this month.
The rejection of a federal indictment by a grand jury is a rare event, as prosecutors only need to prove probable cause and not guilt to secure charges. However, it has happened in multiple high-profile cases brought by the DOJ against Trump critics in recent months, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, and a protester who threw a sandwich at a federal agent in D.C.
This latest failure triggered a round of mockery from commenters on social media.
"As a former prosecutor, I agree with the saying that any prosecutor 'can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich,'" wrote Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) on X. "So when the grand jury refused to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, that means there was no real evidence. Another huge embarrassment for the corrupt @AGToddBlanche."
"Fear is contagious, but so is courage," wrote Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO). "Cassidy Hutchinson bravely testified under oath about the January 6th insurrection. And today’s grand jury showed true courage in rejecting Trump’s abuses of power. Everyday citizens are standing up and holding this reckless President accountable."
"100% malice 0% skill; Our saving grace is that our fascists are as dumb as they are evil," wrote Jessiah Eberlin, the host of Pondering Politics on YouTube.
Meanwhile, Gregg Nunziata of the Society for the Rule of Law wrote: "As I said in a speech recently, the DOJ lawyers involved in these abusive prosecutions 'have betrayed their oaths of office and violated their professional obligations... Perhaps they tell themselves that guilt or innocence is a question for the jury. Maybe they felt relief when grand juries refused to indict, or when courts dismissed charges, but charge by charge, case by case, these lawyers injured the rule of law. They made America a country where every citizen must worry a bit more about speaking his or her mind, a bit more reluctant to engage in our politics.'"
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