Federal grand jury declines to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson

A federal grand jury in Washington declined to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide and prominent witness in the January 6 congressional committee, on criminal charges, a senior U.S. Official confirmed on Tuesday. Prosecutors had sought to charge Hutchinson based on statements she made regarding President Donald Trump’s actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

The grand jury returned a “no bill,” rejecting the Justice Department’s effort to bring charges. The investigation, led by the Civil Rights Division, centered on Hutchinson’s 2022 testimony before the now-defunct Democratic-led House committee, where she detailed Trump’s behavior in the days leading up to the Capitol storming. Trump has previously called Hutchinson a “scam artist” and suggested she be prosecuted for lying under oath.

The decision marks the latest in a series of denied indictments in cases brought by the Justice Department against individuals Trump has identified as political enemies. While the refusal to indict does not bar the department from attempting to charge Hutchinson again in the future, the case highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and former allies. The grand jury heard evidence in the case in early October, and the denial follows a similar pattern to other recent prosecutions that have been rejected by juries.

Read the full story at NBC News.