Liz Cheney contacted controversial J6 witness on encrypted app behind lawyer's back, messages show

[Geee]

Just the News

 

While vice chairwoman of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, former Rep. Liz Cheney used an encrypted phone app to directly and indirectly communicate around defense counsel --and possibly ethical rules -- with a witness who would later change her testimony in shocking fashion, according to evidence obtained by congressional investigators and Just the News. 

Cheney’s Signal communications with witness Cassidy Hutchinson on June 6, 2022 and her friend, Alyssa Farah Griffin, were recently obtained by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., chairman of the House Administration oversight subcommittee that has identified significant problems with the original Democrat-run inquiry into the Jan. 6 incident.

The communications are now raising fresh concerns about the ethical conduct of that Democrat-run investigation. At the time of the communication, Hutchinson was represented by attorney Stefan Passantino, who told Just the News he did not authorize the contacts with Cheney and was not aware of them until contacted by Just the News. 

Cheney is a licensed lawyer in Washington D.C. where the DC Bar rules state unequivocally that “a lawyer shall not communicate or cause another to communicate about the subject of the representation with a person known to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the lawyer has the prior consent of the lawyer representing such other person or is authorized by law or a court order to do so.”

Loudermilk told Just the News that the communications indicate that Cheney defied her ethical responsibilities and may have influenced a witness outside of her lawyer's presence, eventually causing Hutchinson to switch lawyers.

"Our investigation has uncovered unethical back-channel communications between former Rep. Liz Cheney and Cassidy Hutchinson just before Hutchinson changed her sworn testimony," Loudermilk said. "Not only is communicating with a witness without their attorney present unethical, it undermines the integrity of an investigation.

"As a licensed attorney , Liz Cheney would have known the ethical and legal issues with this communication," he added. "Clearly, Cheney did not want Stefan Passantino representing Hutchinson; as shortly after Cheney and Hutchinson began communicating, Cheney convinced Hutchinson to fire Passantino, and arranged for a new attorney to represent Hutchinson pro-bono. "

[Valin]

@Geee

 

This whole Jan. 6 Capitol riot thing 1. Stinks To High Heaven...and always has. 2. Is collapsing. 3. There Really Needs to be a Large number of *Law Suits brought, against everyone on That Panel. 

* If Possible. I don't know what The Law says about this.

[Valin]

Timeline of Events Surrounding J6 D.C. National Guard Deployment Shows Politically Motivated Decisions
As Kamala Harris and Democrats continue to use January 6 as a campaign issue, it is important to recall those responsible for preventing the National Guard from protecting the Capitol.
Julie Kelly and Haley McLean
Oct 15, 2024

Thanks to the surgeon-like precision of my researcher Haley McLean, this timeline (we believe) represents the most exhaustive one to date showing the requests and denials related to the deployment of the D.C. National Guard before and on January 6, 2021. Events have been curated from a number of resources including congressional testimony, internal agency investigations, media coverage, videos, and book excerpts.

We preface the timeline with critical context and information about the lead-up to January 6 involving key political operatives and known foes of President Trump.

(Snip)