Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by the Biden-led Justice Department to oversee cases involving President Donald Trump, recently acknowledged concerns regarding the credibility of a prominent witness from the January 6 Committee. During a deposition conducted earlier this week, Smith stated that this key witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, lacked the necessary knowledge to substantiate her widely publicized claims.
Background on Cassidy Hutchinson’s Testimony
Hutchinson, a former aide to President Trump, gained significant attention during the January 6 hearings. Her testimony included several controversial assertions, most notably her claim that President Trump attempted to “grab the wheel” of a Secret Service vehicle to steer it toward the Capitol amid the unrest following that day’s protests. This assertion has been heavily scrutinized and debunked by Secret Service agents, though it continues to circulate in various political and media discussions.
Jack Smith’s Deposition Insights
In a closed-door deposition that lasted eight hours, Smith answered questions posed by the House Judiciary Committee regarding his prosecutorial decisions and the management of related cases. A transcript of this session was released on December 31, 2025, revealing how Smith scrutinized evidence and evaluations of witnesses during his investigation. A significant portion of the questioning zeroed in on Hutchinson’s testimony from 2022, which detailed interactions within the Trump administration on January 6.
Smith articulated that his team evaluated Hutchinson’s statements as part of constructing the case surrounding alleged election interference. However, he ultimately found that her accounts had limitations due to their dependence on indirect information. He categorized much of her testimony as secondhand or thirdhand hearsay, meaning it was derived from the accounts of others rather than direct observation.
Concerns About Hearsay
Smith expressed that this hearsay aspect significantly weakened the reliability of Hutchinson’s testimony for courtroom purposes. He remarked, “If I were a defense attorney and Ms. Hutchinson were a witness, the first thing I would do was seek to preclude some of her testimony because it was hearsay.” He noted the implications of her indirect sources on the evidentiary weight of her statements.
In his examination of specific instances mentioned by Hutchinson, Smith addressed her claim that Trump had attempted to grab the steering wheel of the presidential vehicle, known as “the Beast,” after delivering his speech at the Ellipse rally. Hutchinson testified that, upon being informed that he would not be taken to the Capitol, Trump allegedly became upset and made an effort to reach for the steering wheel while asserting, “I’m the effing president, take me up to the Capitol now.” However, Smith revealed that an interview with the Secret Service agent present contradicted Hutchinson’s account, indicating that while Trump was indeed agitated about wanting to go to the Capitol, the details provided by the agent were not aligned with Hutchinson’s portrayal.
Further Examination of Testimony
Additionally, Smith touched on Hutchinson’s claim that Trump was aware some supporters at the rally were armed. He noted that interviews with other witnesses, including those whom Hutchinson had referenced, yielded differing perspectives on the events. Smith emphasized that Hutchinson’s status as a “second or even thirdhand witness” lessened the weight of her statements in a legal context.
Earlier this year, House Republicans initiated steps to form their own January 6 Committee, with plans to interview Hutchinson as part of their investigation. These developments underline the ongoing scrutiny surrounding testimonies related to the January 6 events.
Conclusion
As discussions about the January 6 Committee and its witnesses continue, the revelations from Jack Smith’s deposition provide critical insights into the nature of the evidence and testimonies being examined. The discrepancies among witness accounts highlight the complexities involved in legal investigations stemming from this significant incident in American history.
Read more at: Jack Smith Admits The Truth About ‘Star’ Jan 6 Committee Witness