Former aide says Donald Trump demanded to be taken to the Capitol to lead the riots

Washington, June 29 (RHC)-- In explosive testimony, a former White House aide accused Donald Trump of attacking his own presidential security detail on January 6 after the Secret Service refused to drive him to the Capitol to join the armed mob gathering to block Congress from counting Electoral College votes. 

The testimony came from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.  Speaking to the January 6 House committee, Hutchinson described being told what happened inside Trump’s presidential limo — which is known as “the Beast.”

Cassidy Hutchinson said: “The president reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel.  Mr. Engel grabbed his arm, said: 'Sir, you need to take your hand off the steering wheel.  We're going back to the West Wing.  We’re not going to the Capitol.’ Mr. Trump then used his free hand to lunge towards Bobby Engel.  And when Mr. Ornato had recounted this story to me, he had motioned towards his clavicles.”

The January 6 committee also aired videotaped testimony from Hutchinson where she revealed Trump urged security officials to stop using magnetometers to screen for weapons at his rally on January 6 just prior to the Capitol insurrection.

Cassidy Hutchinson: “I was in the vicinity of a conversation where I overheard the president say something to the effect of, you know, 'I don't effing care that they have weapons.  They’re not here to hurt me.  Take the effing mags away.  Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here.  Let the people in.  Take the effing mags away.’”   Moments later, Trump took to the stage and urged his supporters to “fight like hell” and march to the Capitol.  

Hutchinson also unveiled more details about how top Trump associates knew in advance of possible violence on January 6th.  Mark Meadows, who has refused to testify before the House committee, told Hutchinson that January 6 would be “really, really bad.”  Hutchinson said Meadows and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani later sought pardons after the insurrection.