The name of Tony Ornato was heard several times during Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony on Tuesday. Before the hearing, she had testified that she overheard former President Donald Trump say that he did not mind if his supporters carried firearms, implying that there was no problem with them marching to the Capitol armed.
Trump allegedly discussed the weapons with Ornato at a rally on January 6, 2021. According to police reports, attendees of the Trump event on the Ellipse brought pepper spray, knives, brass knuckles, Tasers, and blunt objects that might be used as weapons.
US Secret Service agents told Cassidy Hutchinson that Trump, in the presidential limo, told them after the rally: "I'm the fucking President, take me to the Capitol now."
When they wouldn't, they said Trump lunged at the wheel then at Secret Service agent Robert Engel.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 28, 2022
The Chief of staff, Mark Meadow, and the President were both aware of the weapons and a possible attack on U.S. Capitol that day. However, when Robert Engel tried to warn him about it, he asked them to let them march as they would not hurt him.
According to CNN, Tony had told Cassidy that on January 6, 2021, after leaving a rally of his supporters in Washington, D.C., former President Donald Trump lost his cool when the head of his Secret Service detail, Robert Engel, informed him that they would return to the White House rather than go to the U.S. Capitol because they were not prepared and it was not safe.
However, Trump then attempted to attack Engel while he was behind the wheel of his limo when the secret service head took Trump’s hand off from steering wheels.
