Why it matters: Pottinger is an important witness for the committee to turn to. He is well-respected on both sides of the aisle and worked for former President Trump from the beginning of his administration until Pottinger resigned shortly after the rebellion on Capitol Hill. Between the lines: Pottinger was not in the Oval Office or around Trump on January 6, 2021, but he is a highly credible witness and former member of the highest echelons of the Trump administration.
As Axios’ Jonathan Swan explained in his Off the Rails series last year, which chronicled the revelation of Trump’s final weeks in office, Pottinger immediately packed up and resigned after learning of the escalating attack on Capitol Hill.
The background: Pottinger, a former journalist, was brought to Trump’s National Security Council by former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
He was the architect of many of Trump’s tough policies on China. His testimony cannot be treated lightly or dismissed easily by those in Trumpworld.
What to watch: Former deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews, who also resigned Jan. 6, will appear alongside Pottinger at Thursday’s hearing, the source said.
Matthews has since criticized Trump for his handling of the Jan. 6 case and was one of the few former White House officials to defend Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to then-chief of staff Mark Meadows, against attacks on her credibility following her conviction. . before the committee last month.
