Former Rep. Liz Cheney, while serving as vice chairwoman of the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, is facing questions over her secret communications with a key witness in the investigation.

Oct 13, 2022; Washington, DC, USA;
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, gives her opening statement during the hearing.
The committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol resumes public hearings at the US Capitol on Oct. 13, 2022 in Washington DC.. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Evidence obtained by congressional investigators and Just the News reveals Cheney used the encrypted app Signal to communicate directly with Cassidy Hutchinson, a witness in the investigation, as well as indirectly through Hutchinson’s friend, Alyssa Farah Griffin.

These communications, which took place in June 2022, are raising concerns about potential ethical violations in the Democrat-led inquiry.

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At the time, Hutchinson was represented by attorney Stefan Passantino, who told Just the News he was unaware of Cheney’s contact with his client and did not authorize the communication.

Cheney’s communication may have violated legal ethics rules in Washington, D.C., where she is a licensed attorney.

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The D.C. Bar rules explicitly state that a lawyer may not communicate with a person represented by another attorney without that lawyer’s consent.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), chairman of the House Administration oversight subcommittee, raised concerns that Cheney may have influenced Hutchinson’s testimony and led her 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.”

According to Loudermilk’s subcommittee, Hutchinson fired her attorney, Passantino, shortly after these secret communications began and retained new lawyers, recommended by Cheney, to represent her pro bono.

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Hutchinson later credited Cheney with helping her find new legal representation in her memoir, where she described Cheney’s assistance as “one of the greatest gifts I could have received: hope.”

The timeline of these communications has also raised red flags.

In April 2022, before the direct contact with Hutchinson, Griffin sent Hutchinson a message on Signal acknowledging Cheney’s awareness of the ethical concerns surrounding their communication. “Her one concern was so long [as] you have counsel, she can’t really ethically talk to you without him,” Griffin wrote. Despite this, Cheney went on to communicate directly with Hutchinson in June.

One key exchange occurred on June 6, 2022, when Hutchinson reached out to Cheney via Signal, writing, “I’m sorry for reaching out this way, but I was hoping to have a private conversation with you (soon), if you are willing.” Cheney replied, “I would be happy to. Let me know what time works for you.” Following a phone call, Hutchinson shared a screenshot with Cheney that included advice from her attorney Passantino regarding her interactions with the committee.

In her later testimony to the committee, Hutchinson made significant changes to her original account, providing new, dramatic details, including the now-infamous allegation that former President Trump lunged for the steering wheel of his presidential vehicle on January 6.

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This claim was later refuted by Secret Service personnel, but the committee included it in their final report as credible.

Passantino expressed his concern over Cheney’s actions when contacted by Just the News. “I absolutely had no knowledge at the time that Congresswoman Liz Cheney was communicating with my client behind my back,” he said. “I am frankly shocked that the smoking gun documents still exist and have come to light.”

The subcommittee’s investigation has added fuel to ongoing concerns about the legitimacy of the Democrat-led Jan. 6 inquiry, with many questioning whether Cheney’s actions influenced the course of the investigation and witness testimony.

Hutchinson’s testimony played a significant role in the committee’s final report despite conflicting accounts and disputes over the accuracy of her revised statements.

The investigation into these communications continues, with potential legal and ethical consequences for Cheney.

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