Cassidy Hutchinson was the surprise witness at the Jan. 6 committee’s hastily called hearing, which offered fresh revelations about Trump’s actions on the day rioters stormed the Capitol. As a top aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, she worked at a desk near the Oval Office and was in position to hear and see plenty.

Hutchinson was with Trump right before he delivered his Jan. 6 speech urging the crowd to march to the Capitol. She saw firsthand his profane outbursts and once said she cleaned up a mess he had caused — quite literally.

Hutchinson was poised and somber throughout her sworn testimony, giving the impression that her damning account of Trump’s behavior gave her no pleasure. After she spoke, committee members came down from the dais to thank her and shake hands. Former White House aides who served with her tweeted about her credibility. Apparently watching the hearing in real time, Trump was quick to denounce the 25-year-old: “I hardly know who this person Cassidy Hutchinson is, other than I heard very negative things about her (a total phony and ‘leaker’),” he posted on his social media site, Truth Social.

A few takeaways from the hearing:

​​The committee is looking into witness tampering

At the close of Tuesday’s hearing, committee Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., issued a warning to Trump administration and campaign officials who she said have been contacting witnesses and trying to sway their testimony before the committee.

“I think most people know that attempting to influence witnesses to testify untruthfully presents very serious concerns,” Cheney said in her closing remarks.

Legal experts said witness tampering comes in all forms. It can be in your face, or more subtle.