Former Trump Aide Accuses Rudy Giuliani of Groping on Capitol Attack Day

Cassidy Hutchinson, a former Trump White House aide, alleges in her upcoming book, “Enough,” that Rudy Giuliani groped her backstage at the rally that preceded the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection. Hutchinson, known for her pivotal testimony in the House select committee’s investigation of January 6 events, recounts her time in the Trump administration. According to The Guardian, which first reported quotes from the book, Giuliani allegedly touched her inappropriately during the January 6 rally, placing his hands “under my blazer, then my skirt.”

Rudy Giuliani’s political adviser, Ted Goodman, has labeled Hutchinson’s claims a “disgusting lie” and questioned the timing of her allegations, which have emerged as part of her book’s marketing campaign. Goodman emphasized Giuliani’s distinguished career in public service, including his efforts against the Mafia, revitalizing New York City, and providing support to the nation after the September 11th attacks.

Backstage on Jan. 6

Hutchinson’s account reveals that her encounter with Giuliani was witnessed by others, including John Eastman, a conservative attorney who, like Giuliani, promoted false claims of election theft in the 2020 election.

According to Hutchinson, the encounter began with Giuliani asserting he possessed evidence of voter fraud. She vividly describes the moment, stating, “The corners of his mouth split into a Cheshire cat smile. Waving a stack of documents, he moves towards me, like a wolf closing in on its prey. ‘We have the evidence. It’s all here. We’re going to pull this off.’ Rudy wraps one arm around my body, closing the space that was separating us. I feel his stack of documents press into the small of my back. I lower my eyes and watch his free hand reach for the hem of my blazer.” Hutchinson goes on to recount Giuliani’s inappropriate advances, stating, “His hand slips under my blazer, then my skirt. I feel his frozen fingers trail up my thigh. He tilts his chin up. The whites of his eyes look jaundiced. My eyes dart to John Eastman, who flashes a leering grin.”

She further adds, “I fight against the tension in my muscles and recoil from Rudy’s grip … filled with rage, I storm through the tent, on yet another quest for Mark,” referring to her then-boss, Meadows.

Charles Burnham, an attorney for Eastman, vehemently denied Hutchinson’s account and labeled the accusations as “libelous.” Burnham stated that Eastman had no recollection of ever meeting Hutchinson and was unaware of her identity until her public testimony before the House of Representatives’ Select Committee in June 2022.

Giuliani’s legal issues

Hutchinson’s allegations come at a time when Rudy Giuliani is grappling with a slew of legal troubles, including mounting legal expenses. Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, is among 18 co-defendants indicted alongside Trump in August by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. They are accused of attempting to interfere with the 2020 election results in Georgia. Giuliani had to post bond as he awaits trial, which adds to his financial burdens. Furthermore, the law firm that represented Giuliani in recent years, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, has filed a lawsuit against him, claiming that he has paid only $214,000 of his total legal bill, leaving him with a debt exceeding $1.3 million.

Giuliani has also been found liable for defaming two Georgia election workers falsely accused by him of committing voter fraud in 2020. Trump’s political action committee (PAC) recently settled a debt of over $300,000 that Giuliani owed to a data-hosting company. This company had retained access to some of Giuliani’s electronic data needed for legal proceedings, potentially requiring further payments. Additionally, Giuliani faces over $100,000 in sanctions for failing to respond to parts of the 2020 election defamation lawsuit and awaits a jury trial that could result in significant damages in that case.

Notably, Trump has actively supported fundraisers for Giuliani’s legal defense fund.