Explosive new testimony has emerged alleging that former US President Donald Trump attempted to pressure the Department of Justice (DOJ) into falsely declaring the 2020 election fraudulent in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot.
Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, revealed in her upcoming book that Trump sought to weaponise the DOJ to support his baseless claims of election fraud. According to Hutchinson, Trump wanted the agency to publicly state that the election was "corrupt" despite no evidence existing to support such a claim.
Pressure on the DOJ
Hutchinson's account suggests Trump's efforts to overturn the election results extended beyond his public rhetoric. The former president reportedly urged acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen to back his fraud allegations, even after multiple courts and officials had dismissed them.
"He wanted the DOJ to say the election was stolen," Hutchinson reportedly writes. "It was part of a broader strategy to legitimise his false narrative."
White House Chaos After January 6
The revelations paint a picture of a White House in turmoil following the violent attack on the US Capitol. Hutchinson describes Trump as "defiant" in the days after January 6, continuing to push election fraud claims despite growing legal and political fallout.
Her testimony aligns with previous accounts from other Trump administration officials who have described the former president's relentless efforts to challenge the election outcome.
Legal Ramifications
These new claims could have significant implications for ongoing investigations into Trump's conduct surrounding January 6. Legal experts suggest that pressuring the DOJ to make false statements about election integrity may constitute obstruction of justice.
The revelations come as Trump faces multiple legal challenges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
