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The communications took place while Cassidy Hutchinson was represented by attorney Stefan Passantino. However, Passantino claims he was unaware of the contact between Hutchinson and Cheney and did not authorize it. He reportedly learned about the secret communications after being contacted by Just the News.
The timeline of these encrypted exchanges raises more eyebrows. Cassidy Hutchinson, who had previously worked for the Trump administration, was preparing for her third deposition before Cheney’s committee as the 2022 midterm elections loomed. Hutchinson had been in touch with Alyssa Farah Griffin, who, in messages sent to Hutchinson, expressed Cheney’s reluctance to communicate directly with Hutchinson due to potential ethical concerns regarding her legal representation. Yet, by June 6, 2022, Hutchinson initiated direct communication with Cheney.
Hutchinson reportedly shared screenshots of legal advice from her then-attorney, Stefan Passantino, during this conversation—without his knowledge or approval. The exchange between Hutchinson and Cheney also involved a phone call, conducted through encrypted means. Once Passantino discovered these unauthorized conversations, he was reportedly furious and considered taking legal action for the breach of ethical protocols.
Loudermilk pointed out that Cheney’s actions appeared deliberate, aimed at removing Passantino from representing Hutchinson. He explained, “As a licensed attorney, Liz Cheney would have known the ethical and legal issues with this communication. Clearly, Cheney did not want Stefan Passantino representing Hutchinson, as shortly after Cheney and Hutchinson began communicating, Cheney convinced Hutchinson to fire Passantino and arranged for a new attorney to represent Hutchinson pro-bono.”
Following her decision to sever ties with Passantino, Hutchinson, in her memoir, acknowledged the assistance Cheney provided in securing her new legal counsel—allowing her to testify without the financial burden of attorney fees. Hutchinson credited Cheney’s support for giving her a renewed sense of “hope” and courage to move forward with her involvement in the committee.
This series of events led to major changes in Hutchinson’s testimony, including some highly controversial claims about former President Donald Trump’s actions on January 6. One of the most explosive accusations was Hutchinson’s account of Trump allegedly trying to take control of the steering wheel of his presidential vehicle to direct it to the Capitol. Although this claim was disputed by other witnesses, it was included in the final report released by the January 6 committee.
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These new revelations about Cheney’s secret communications raise serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the January 6 investigation. Loudermilk and others are now questioning whether Hutchinson’s change in testimony, particularly her more damning statements against Trump, was influenced by Cheney’s unauthorized involvement.
The findings from this investigation are likely to intensify the scrutiny surrounding Cheney’s role in the probe and the methods used by the committee to secure witness testimony. With more details expected to emerge, this controversy is far from over.
As this story develops, questions about ethical breaches and the potential manipulation of witness testimony will continue to reverberate through the halls of Congress. Cheney’s actions may not only damage her own credibility but also cast a long shadow over the committee’s entire investigation into the January 6 events.
