Cassidy Hutchinson — a top aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows during the Trump era — has parted ways with her lawyer and brought on new representation. Her new lawyer, Jody Hunt of Alston Bird, confirmed the move to POLITICO.
The change in counsel signals an increased willingness from Hutchinson to cooperate fully with the Jan. 6 select committee’s probe, according to a person familiar with her thinking. The panel has signaled that it views her as a key witness.
Hutchinson’s former attorney, Stefan Passantino, has deep Trump World connections. Her new lawyer, Jody Hunt, is a longtime close ally of Jeff Sessions and served as his chief of staff when the former attorney general enraged Trump by recusing from the Russia probe.
Select committee members have praised Hutchinson for providing extensive testimony behind closed doors, over the course of three depositions and under two different subpoenas. The Jan. 6 panel is expected to call her in for live testimony during a public hearing.