After an hour, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson adjourned the meeting.

Ten minutes break for Cassidy Hutchinson.

The 26-year-old surprise witness of the Committee of Inquiry into the Storming of the Capitol rose from her seat and left the room in the Cannon Building through the back exit.

Some in the audience, which also includes members of the Congress and the Capitol Police, spontaneously applaud the young woman.

In a quiet but brave voice, the former White House employee had just made the most serious allegations against Donald Trump to date.

Majid Sattar

Political correspondent for North America based in Washington.

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The committee meeting was scheduled at short notice.

The fact that the security forces had secured the Capitol Hill more tightly on Tuesday than on the previous days of the session indicated that a historical statement could be expected.

Hutchinson, who was a congressional intern while she was in college, landed her first White House job in 2018 — in the Office of Parliamentary Affairs.

In 2019, she received a position as Assistant to the President.

The following year, she also became an associate of Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff.

In the days leading up to January 6, 2021, she followed the President's plans for the rally behind his official residence, from which the violent mob later marched toward Congress.

There, both chambers of parliament were to certify Joe Biden's election victory.

On the evening of January 2, after Meadows spoke with Rudy Giuliani, Hutchinson took Trump's personal attorney to his car in the White House parking lot.

He asked whether she was also looking forward to January 6th.

It's gonna be a great day.

The President will go to the Capitol.

"Ask the chief of staff," he would know, he added.

She then went to Meadows in his West Wing office: "I had an interesting conversation with Rudy, Mark.

Sounds like we're going to the Capitol.” Her boss replied that there was a lot going on at the moment.

"I don't know, but it could be really bad on January 6." That night, Hutchinson recalled, was the first time she felt scared.

Trump hit the driver on the collarbone

On the morning of January 6, before the rally, Pat Cipollone, the White House Counsel, said to her, "Please make sure we don't go to the Capitol, Cassidy."

And: "Keep me informed." Finally: "We will be charged with every conceivable crime if we start the movement." Asked if she discussed possible criminal offenses with Cipollone, Hutchinson said, among other things, is from obstruction of Congress.

Meadows is currently in litigation with the committee over his subpoena.

The Committee is in contact with Cipollone, who is more cooperative.

It is unclear whether he will testify.