John Bolton, former national security advisor, believes that Pat Cipollone (White House counsel) should be brought before the House select panel investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. After Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, told the committee that Cipollone had raised many concerns about the actions of former President Trump in the days preceding and following January 6.
Bolton said that Pat should testify to CBS News’ Catherine Herridge during a Friday interview.
Bolton stated that he was not surprised to hear Hutchinson tell the committee on Jan. 6 that Cipollone had said to Cipollone “We’re going be charged with every crime possible” if Trump went to the Capitol with his supporters.
Bolton said to Herridge that he knew he would get a negative reaction if the president didn’t hear what they wanted. “But Cipollone was perfectly capable of telling him that he was crossing the line,” Bolton said to Herridge.
In 2018, Don McGahn was succeeded by Cipollone as White House counsel, while Bolton was the national security advisor to President Trump.
Bolton left the White House in November 2019. However, he is familiar with Cipollone and Tony Ornato. Tony Ornato was a White House aide who challenged parts of Hutchinson’s shocking testimony. Hutchinson was a White House chief of staff for Mark Meadows.
Hutchinson said to the committee this week, that Trump had spoken on the Ellipse Jan. 6 and that she had spoken with Ornato. Ornato told her that Trump was angry in his car when he was told he wouldn’t be able go to the Capitol, where his supporters were marching.
Hutchinson recalls that he said something along the lines of “I’m the F***ing President — take me up the Capitol now,”. She continued to mention Ornato’s story that Trump reached for the steering wheel when he was told he would have to return to White House.
A source close to Secret Service claims that Ornato does not dispute the testimony of Trump reaching for the steering wheel, lunging, and grasping the arm of the victim. However, he did not deny that Trump demanded to go to the Capitol.
Bolton recalls Ornato being “very professional” and stated that “he performed his duties in no partisan way.” He also said that he believes Ornato should be heard testifying before the committee. The House select committee interviewed Ornato behind closed doors but not in the open.
Bolton believes Ornato should be present before the committee. However, he didn’t criticize Hutchinson. Bolton described her appearance as “very calm and consistent.”
