Stefan Passantino, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who represented ex-White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson during her testimony before the House Select Committee on January 6, has filed a lawsuit against the committee, accusing it of harming his professional reputation and career.

According to Newsmax, Passantino filed a $67 million Federal Tort Claims Act Complaint against the congressional committee, alleging that the committee intentionally created and propagated a false narrative about him, intentionally interfered with his attorney-client relationship, and neglected his civil rights in order to further a political agenda targeting former President Donald Trump.

“Liz Cheney and her collaborators on the January 6th Committee decided to peddle a false tale about Mr. Passantino and his relationship with his client without any regard for the truth or whether they were destroying the reputation of a good man; a reputation built over decades,” Passantino’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, said in a statement.

According to the complaint, the committee is accused of engaging in unauthorized communications with Hutchinson without Passantino’s knowledge or consent, thereby violating the attorney-client privilege. In addition, the complaint alleges that these communications contributed to the construction of a “false narrative” that was then disseminated to news outlets by a lawmaker or congressional staffer acting “outside the scope of their legislative function.”

Hutchinson, who served as Mark Meadows’ assistant during Meadows’ tenure as Trump’s last chief of staff, emerged as the key witness for the January 6 Committee. During her testimony, she claimed that Trump attempted to seize the presidential limousine in order to transport himself to election protests.

However, several of her claims, which were based on conversations with third parties, were swiftly discredited when her sources publicly denied her account of the events, as reported by the news outlet.

Shortly before providing her damning testimony, Hutchinson changed legal representation. Prior to her appearance at the televised hearing, former White House deputy counsel Passantino advised her throughout the entire process, which included three private depositions before the committee.

According to the complaint, Hutchinson began collaborating with members of the January 6 Committee without Passantino’s knowledge after her second deposition.

“The Committee, through a backchannel directly to Mr. Passantino’s client, in total disregard for the attorney-client relationship, convinced Mr. Passantino’s client to sit for additional interviews and give incredible testimony that could then be peddled by national news media friendly to the Committee to damage Mr. Passantino,” the complaint says, according to Newsmax.

This passage appears to be citing articles such as one published by CNN in December with the headline “Cassidy Hutchinson told the January 6 committee she felt pressure from Trump allies not to talk and instead risk ‘contempt.'”

According to the article, which cites transcripts of Hutchinson’s subsequent discussion with the committee in September, Hutchinson believed she had no choice but to hire Passantino as her attorney because she could not afford the fees quoted by other legal professionals.

Passantino asserts that he was not informed of the committee’s meeting with Hutchinson in September.

After obtaining her initial subpoena from the House, Hutchinson first met Passantino when she reached out to Trump’s Save America PAC for assistance in securing legal representation. After his time as deputy White House counsel, Passantino returned to private practice and represented several witnesses before the committee on January 6, including Hutchinson.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

“Ms. Hutchinson never told Passantino that she wanted a ‘non-Trump’ lawyer or that she had any sensitivity about Mr. Passantino’s previous work in the Trump White House,” the complaint notes further. “She did not express reservations to Mr. Passantino about him being paid by a Trump-related PAC; instead, she had solicited that funding herself.” CONTINUE READING…