Grand jury rejects DOJ bid to indict ex-Trump WH aide Cassidy Hutchinson: Reports

JUST IN: A federal grand jury rejects the DOJ's bid to indict former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, a key Jan. 6 witness, according to reports.

A federal grand jury just told the Justice Department no. That almost never happens.

Prosecutors wanted to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump White House aide who became one of the January 6 committee's most memorable witnesses. You'll remember her, pictured here, she's the one who testified that Trump was so determined to join the crowd at the Capitol that he allegedly lunged for the steering wheel of the presidential car. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division argued she made false statements, and a senior department lawyer confirmed in open court Tuesday that the grand jury in Washington rejected the indictment, per the Washington Post.

Here's why that matters. The old line among lawyers is that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich, because prosecutors control the room. When one refuses, that's jurors looking at the government's case and deciding it isn't there. The DOJ asked for charges against a witness who testified against the sitting president, and a jury of ordinary citizens said no.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.