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A report by House Democrats is rebutting GOP claims that former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) acted improperly in contacting star witness Cassidy Hutchinson, arguing that a Republican report amounts to defamation.
Democrats reportreleased four years after the attack, comes after House Administration subcommittee chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) urged an FBI investigation into Cheney for witness tampering.
Democrats pointed to Hutchinson’s prior testimony to the now-dissolved Jan. 6 committee, as well as a previously undisclosed letter from his lawyer indicating he had fired his former lawyer before reaching out to Cheney .
The two documents undermine GOP claims that Hutchinson was still represented by Stefan Passantino when the two women were in contact, conversations that could otherwise raise ethical questions.
“Mrs. Hutchinson made the independent decision to terminate his then-attorney of his own volition given the conflict of interest he perceived and represented because he did not believe Mr. Passantino represented his best interests,” wrote William Jordan, the attorney current of Hutchinson.
The letter from Hutchinson’s attorney came after America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit founded by Trump adviser Stephen Miller, filed a complaint against Cheney with the D.C. attorney in October.
Loudermilk’s recommendation for an investigation Cheney wouldface numerous obstaclesBut the move nonetheless comes as President-elect Trump and others have called for retribution against the Wyoming Republican.
The text messages in Loudermilk’s report show that it was Hutchinson who first contacted Cheney.
And while the protections of the Speech and Debate Clause would likely prevent any prosecution of Cheney, who was a House lawmaker at the time, witness tampering charges would also be difficult to advance. The statute deals with those who pressure witnesses to give false testimony.
Although contacting a potential witness without his lawyer could raise ethical issues, Cheney advised Hutchinson to get a new lawyer before returning to the committee to offer additional testimony.
Hutchinson agreed to testify publicly in a blockbuster hearing after she said Passantino encouraged her not to be open to the panel.
Administration Democrats called Loudermilk’s claims “maliciously false” as well as “absurd” and said the protection of the Speech and Debate Clause also protects him from what they otherwise said would be liable for defamation.
“Vice President Cheney acted with integrity and professionalism when a witness with relevant facts was approached. After being informed that this witness was no longer represented by counsel and that he wished to provide the Select Committee with additional information while acting as his own counsel , the vice president suggested that he consider hiring independent counsel before testifying again,” the administration’s Democrats wrote. in your report.
“This again demonstrates that Vice President Cheney had no part in the formation of Mrs. Hutchinson’s testimony.”
Loudermilk presented his report as a review of the panel’s “failures and politicization.” The Georgia lawmaker was also reviewed by the former committee after making Capitol Hill visits to two men who later marched in the building on Jan. 6, 2021.
“House Democrats still can’t face reality. Their new report is a heart-wrenching retelling of the same narrative that Democrats, led by Liz Cheney and Nancy Pelosi, created in an attempt to legislatively impeach Donald Trump,” he said. Loudermilk said in a statement Monday.
“I have spent the last two years uncovering the truth and they simply refuse to accept any element of it.”
