Was Hutchinson's Jan. 6 Testimony Damning, or Deserving of Skepticism?

Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified Tuesday before the House's Jan. 6 committee about former President Donald Trump's actions during the Capitol riot. Is her account believable, or worthy of scrutiny?

Among other accounts about Trump's allegedly erratic behavior leading up to and during the riot, Hutchinson said he lunged at a Secret Service agent and tried to grab the steering wheel of the presidential limo when told he couldn't go to the Capitol. Her account was based on details from Trump staffer Tony Ornato, who she said heard about it from Robert Engel, head of Trump's Secret Service detail. Multiple reports suggest that both men are willing to testify that Trump never lunged for the steering wheel. Other reports suggest that the Engel's closed-door testimony before the committee earlier this month corroborates parts of Hutchinson's account.

Voices across the spectrum — from Vox (Left bias) to National Review (Right bias) — said the testimony was a damning case against Trump. The Washington Examiner's (Lean Right bias) editorial board wrote that "Trump is unfit to be anywhere near power ever again." The New York Times's (Lean Left bias) Frank Bruni wrote that there "may be no better distillation of Donald Trump’s narcissism" than Hutchinson's account.

Other right-rated sources focused on Engel's willingness to testify and less on Hutchinson's testimony, which they often framed as having holes. Few left- and center-rated sources covered the conflicting accounts, and most instead highlighted the potential negative consequences for Trump.