Cassidy Hutchinson told Jan. 6 committee Trump-linked lawyer urged her to "downplay" role in testimony, transcript reveals

Washington — Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, told investigators with the House select committee probing the Jan. 6 Capitol assault that a lawyer allied with former President Donald Trump urged her to "downplay" her role to the panel and tell investigators she did not recall events surrounding the attack, according to transcripts of her interviews made public Thursday.

The two transcripts released by the select committee are from two interviews Hutchinson gave to House investigators on Sept. 14 and Sept. 15. The panel is making public transcripts from all witness interviews taken during its nearly 18-month investigation and is set to release its final report Thursday.

During the Sept. 14 closed-door interview with the committee, Hutchinson answered questions about her legal representation during the course of its investigation and who was paying her fees, though her attorneys at the time of her interview said they were working pro bono.