THE TOP
Happy Tuesday morning.
NEWS: Cassidy Hutchinson, former top aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, will testify before the Jan. 6 select committee later today. We scooped this last night, and we have more below on the backstory.
As Meadows’ executive assistant, Hutchinson had unique and constant access to him, former President Donald Trump and the White House inner circle in the run up to, during and after the Jan. 6 insurrection. She also was a main point of contact in the White House for dozens of members of Congress.
Having covered Meadows and the Trump White House, we can tell you that Hutchison was in the middle of almost everything that happened in the West Wing, so she’s a hugely important witness. Count on it.
Hutchinson has already made a couple of brief appearances during the select committee’s hearings in video snippets from her depositions, including naming some House GOP lawmakers who sought pardons from Trump following the deadly attack on the Capitol.
After the election, Hutchinson was in contact with officials in Georgia about efforts to overturn the election there. The Fulton County DA has impaneled a grand jury, considering whether to seek an indict Trump.
Hutchinson also testified that she saw Meadows burn papers in his office after meeting with Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in the weeks before Jan. 6. Perry played a key role in the push to appoint Jeffrey Clark, a DOJ environmental lawyer, as acting attorney general in order to use the Justice Department to bolster Trump’s false election fraud claims.
CNN also reported that “Hutchinson told the January 6 committee that Trump had suggested to Meadows he approved of the ‘hang Mike Pence’ chants from rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol.”
Meadows has refused to testify before the panel. The former GOP member from North Carolina turned over thousands of text messages from lawmakers, White House aides and others to the select committee before abruptly changing positions and declining to cooperate any further late last year. The House voted in December to recommend contempt charges against Meadows but the Justice Department declined to pursue a criminal indictment.
The select committee had always hoped Hutchinson would testify publicly. But after insisting for the last week that it would push its hearings until July, we scooped yesterday that the Jan. 6 committee would hold a hearing today because they had unearthed new evidence.
So why now? Since changing lawyers earlier this month, Hutchinson has been much more cooperative with the select committee, we’re told by multiple sources.
Hutchinson’s previous lawyer, Stefan Passantino, was the White House ethics lawyer under Trump and is still very much in the former president’s orbit. Her new lawyer, Jody Hunt, served as chief of staff to then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Hutchinson has testified before the panel four times, including once within the last 10 days.
Most importantly, we’re told Hutchinson’s firsthand account – her direct testimony and evidence – meaningfully informs the hearings the panel has planned for July. There have also been “sincere concerns” about Hutchinson’s physical security because of what she knows and has revealed to the committee, we’re told.
Due to these reasons, select committee members felt they had to hold the hearing today and couldn’t wait until the House returns from recess in mid-July. The hearing kicks off at 1 p.m.
– Heather Caygle, John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman
Event today: Join us in-person, or on the livestream for the second event in our 2022 “Road to Recovery” series. We’ll be sitting down for a conversation with Gov. Chris Sununu (R) about the 2024 election and the issues facing small businesses coming out of the pandemic at 9 a.m. RSVP Here!
PRESENTED BY META
Doctors can practice high-risk situations risk-free in the metaverse
Body: In the metaverse, future surgeons will be able to practice advanced procedures hundreds of times before seeing real patients – helping them gain experience and master their skills.
The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real.
PRIMARY DAY IN AMERICA
What we’re watching in today’s primaries
It’s another primary day in America. Today, voters in seven states will head to the polls in a wide range of contests that will determine the lineups for key House, Senate and gubernatorial races. Here’s a look at what we are tracking.
Illinois
Illinois’ 15th District Republican primary. This Republican member-on-member primary between Reps. Rodney Davis and Mary Miller attracted national attention over the weekend when Miller hailed the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe vs. Wade as a “victory for white life.” Miller’s team says the first-term lawmaker — who in 2021 said Adolf Hitler “was right on one thing” — meant to say “right to life.”
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Miller and campaigned with her at a rally in rural Illinois over the weekend. Davis has a more moderate, deal-making reputation on Capitol Hill. Davis is the top Republican on the House Administration Committee and has served in Congress since 2013; Miller is in her first term.
Illinois’ 6th District Democratic primary. Today’s other member-on-member primary features Democratic Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman. Newman, who was the subject of an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics, is endorsed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC.
Democratic Majority for Israel PAC is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on ads backing Casten. Newman is one of Congress’ most vocal pro-Palestinian supporters and notably voted with the Squad in 2021 to oppose U.S. funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
Illinois’ 7th District Democratic primary. Justice Democrats-backed candidate Kina Collins is challenging longtime Chicago Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) from the left in the 7th District primary. National progressives are excited about Collins’ chances against the 80-year-old incumbent who’s been in Congress for over a quarter-century.
Leading House Democrats like Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have traveled to campaign for Davis. Davis also boasts the endorsement of President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC.
Illinois’ 3rd District Democratic primary. The matchup between state Rep. Delia Ramirez and Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas has pitted national progressives and moderates against each other. The two are the main contenders for the open Chicago seat.
Ramirez has the backing of Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and the CPC PAC. Villegas, who pro-Ramirez forces have attacked as a corporate lobbyist, is endorsed by more center-left Democratic figures.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Senate Republican primary. Can Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) crack 50% and avoid a runoff in the crowded primary in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Jim Inhofe? Mullin’s other competitors are former state House Speaker T.W. Shannon, Inhofe-endorsed Luke Holland (who served as Inhofe’s chief of staff), state Sen. Nathan Dahm and former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.
Trump has not endorsed in the race.
GOP Sen. James Lankford is on the ballot as well, but he’s expected to win handily. He’s being challenged by Tulsa pastor Jackson Lahmeyer and others.
Mississippi
Mississippi’s 3rd District Republican primary runoff. Retired Navy pilot Michael Cassidy narrowly beat incumbent Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) in the June 7 primary, but neither candidate broke 50%. Cassidy has slammed Guest’s vote to establish an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection.
In recent weeks, Guest has run a number of ads highlighting Cassidy’s past campaign positions that called for a dramatic expansion of Medicare. Cassidy has distanced himself from his previous proposals.
Mississippi’s 4th District Republican primary runoff. While Guest’s reelection troubles have been caused by his Jan. 6 commission vote, Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) has been dogged by ethics issues. A 2021 Office of Congressional Ethics investigation found “substantial evidence” that Palazzo misspent campaign funds.
Palazzo’s opponent, Sheriff Mike Ezell, has played up his law enforcement experience.
Colorado
Colorado Senate Republican primary. National Republicans bullish about 2022 believe they have an outside shot of unseating incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. Today’s primary will go a long way in proving whether that’s a pipe dream or not. If more moderate Joe O’Dea, who has expressed support for abortion rights, triumphs over right-wing state Rep. Ron Hanks, then Republicans may start to dream in the Centennial State.
New York
New York Democratic gubernatorial primary. Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to fend off a challenge from her right by Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). Suozzi is trying to portray Hochul as soft on crime. The sitting governor, who is also facing New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in the primary, remains the strong favorite.
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) is the favorite to capture the GOP nomination. He faces a number of candidates, including Andrew Giuliani, the son of the former mayor.
— Max Cohen
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Biden wraps up G7 meeting in Germany
President Joe Biden pictured with other G7 leaders today in Germany. Biden is heading to Madrid for a NATO meeting focused on Ukraine.
PRESENTED BY META
THE CAMPAIGN
→ How about this: Curtis Trent, who is running for state senate in Missouri, is running an ad blaming Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the crisis at the border.
→ You don’t see this too often. Rep. David Schweikert’s (R-Ariz.) former campaign treasurer has cut an ad against him indicating he’s a crook. The spot, cut by Elijah Norton’s campaign, is running in Phoenix.
– Jake Sherman
FRONTS
PRESENTED BY META
MOMENTS
All times eastern
6:05 a.m.: President Joe Biden will leave Schloss Elmau, Germany, for Munich.
6:50 a.m.: Biden will leave Munich for Madrid. He will arrive at 9:10 a.m.
10 a.m.: Biden will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
11:30 a.m.: Biden will meet with King Felipe VI.
1 p.m.: The Jan. 6 committee’s hearing will begin.
2:05 p.m.: Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will attend a NATO dinner at the Royal Palace.
CLIP FILE
NYT
→ “The NATO summit in Madrid could see fissures and debate beneath a semblance of unity,” by Steven Erlanger in Brussels
→ “U.S. Urges New Tactic to Curb Putin’s War Machine and Lower Fuel Prices,” by Jim Tankersley in Krun, Germany
→ “Federal Agents Seized Phone of John Eastman, Key Figure in Jan. 6 Plan,” by Alan Feuer and Adam Goldman
→ “Biden Irked by Democrats Who Won’t Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer on 2024,” by Jonathan Martin and Zolan Kanno-Youngs
WaPo
→ “Frustration, anger rising among Democrats over caution on abortion,” by Yasmeen Abutaleb, Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Marianna Sotomayor
→ “46 migrants found dead inside tractor-trailer in Texas,” by Arelis R. Hernández in San Antonio, Nick Miroff and Maria Sacchetti
WSJ
→ “U.S. Kills Suspected Militant Linked to Al Qaeda in Syria,” by Gordon Lubold and Michael R. Gordon
→ “Big-Ticket Goods Orders, Pending Home Sales Point to Steady Demand,” by Bryan Mena
Politico
→ “Democrats getting the jitters in Washington and Colorado,” by Natalie Allison
→ “Democrats look to recruit businesses from red states restricting abortion,” by Lara Korte in Sacramento
PRESENTED BY META
The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real
Body: Meta is helping build the metaverse so aviation mechanics will be able to practice servicing different jet engines – preparing them for any complex job.
The result: A more skilled workforce.
Editorial photos provided by Getty Images