Liz Cheney became concerned about the safety of Cassidy Hutchinson and other J6 witnesses
Among the many subjects that Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) addresses in her new book is what unfolded with former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson during the House Select Committee's investigation of the attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Cheney's book, "Oath and Honor," was released Tuesday as the Republican spoke to media outlets about some of the more shocking details on and around Jan. 6, 2021.
Hutchinson was working as the chief of staff's aide in the aftermath of the 2020 election and in her own book she reports some details about what she heard or was told in the final months of Donald Trump's White House.
One of the more delicate moments came when Hutchinson realized she had to find a way to get more information to the House Select Committee without tipping off Trump World. Her Trump-appointed attorney, paid for by a Trump-linked legal fund, was telling her not to reveal any information and kept telling them, "I don't recall," even if she did. They wouldn't know, he counseled her.
Behind the scenes, Hutchinson was talking to long-time friend and colleague Alyssa Farah Griffin, now a co-host on "The View." Griffin was also serving as a kind of go-between delivering information to Cheney and the Committee one degree separated from Hutchinson.
In her book "Enough," Hutchinson describes a call she ultimately had with Cheney where she said she accepted help from a Trump-linked attorney because she was short on personal finances.
"Since then, my finances had continued to suffer, and I had nothing to offer a new attorney," wrote Hutchinson. "I asked if she or any of the members or committee staff might know an attorney who would be willing to put me on a payment plan. Liz said that she would follow up after she spoke with colleagues."
In her own book, Cheney shares her recollections of Hutchinson's testimony.
"Cassidy provided us with additional important information, but she was obviously nervous about her Trump-affiliated lawyer and initially gave only short answers," Cheney writes. "Our Committee counsel and I took turns asking her specific questions, and following up in areas where we sensed she had more detail. We drew out additional details piece by piece."
Hutchinson remembers that day well in her book.
"When they turned off the cameras, I slumped back on the sofa, exhausted," she writes in "Enough" about the third Q&A. "Stefan [Her lawyer at the time] shook Liz’s hand and then talked to Dan [a committee lawyer] about something. Liz came over to me and gave me a hug. Whispering in my ear, she said, 'Thank you.' 'I’m really trying to do the right thing,' I whispered back."
Cheney recalls in her book: "I gave her a hug, and I thanked her. 'I want you to know,' I said, 'that I have three daughters who are about your age. If they ever had to face what you have, I can only hope they would show the same courage you have.'"
"It was equally obvious that she was determined to do what was right," continues Cheney. "Our Committee counsel walked Cassidy and her lawyer to the exit."
Upon leaving the House offices that day, Hutchinson writes that she shook the hand of one of the committee lawyers.
"I'm about to get nuked," she remembers. He agreed.
"She meant the Trump team would soon learn what she had done—and attempt to destroy her and her reputation," Cheney explains in her version. "Her instinct proved correct."
"Cassidy had just told us in the Cannon interview room about several conversations she overheard during the violence of January 6, describing Donald Trump as unwilling to instruct his supporters to leave the Capitol. We worried about her safety," Cheney writes.
"Other witnesses—including a number of national security and military staff posted at the White House—had likewise identified concerns about retribution from Donald Trump and his allies, and the Committee had taken special measures to protect their security," writes Cheney.
The fear about Hutchinson's security is what ultimately changed the schedule of the Jan. 6 public hearings. Before those final meetings, Hutchinson had been scheduled to appear with other former White House staff. Instead, the committee rushed to put her before the public.