Former Trump White House lawyer Stefan Passantino has filed a defamation lawsuit against prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, alleging that Weissmann made false statements in a tweet about Passantino’s involvement in coaching a witness to lie under oath. The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in DC, and Passantino is seeking damages in excess of $75,000.
The tweet in question was posted by Weissmann on September 15, 2023. In the tweet, Weissmann referred to Hunt, who is Cassidy Hutchinson’s lawyer, as “the guy who took notes of Trump saying, when Mueller was appointed, quoting him as saying ‘I’m f….d’.” Weissmann added, “Hunt also is Cassidy Hutchinson’s good lawyer. (Not the one who coached her to lie).” The tweet did not specifically mention Passantino’s name.
Hutchinson had previously testified before the January 6 Committee, falsely claiming that Trump lunged at a Secret Service Agent on January 6. According to Hutchinson, she received this information from Tony Ornato, the Assistant Director for the Secret Service. Ornato reportedly told Hutchinson that Trump grew angry after being informed that he was being driven back to the West Wing. Hutchinson alleged that Trump shouted, “I’m the f*cking president! Take me up to the Capitol now!” She further claimed that Trump reached up to the driver, grabbed the steering wheel, and tried to commandeer the presidential limo.
However, during her testimony before the January 6 Committee, Hutchinson stated that Passantino did not instruct her to lie. She said, “He didn’t tell me to lie. He told me not to lie.” This contradicted the claim made in Weissmann’s tweet.
Passantino’s lawsuit argues that Weissmann knew his statements to be false or made them with reckless disregard for their truth. The lawsuit states that Passantino had done nothing to obstruct or shape Hutchinson’s testimony, as she herself stated that “Stefan never told me to lie” and that “he told me not to lie.” The lawsuit alleges that Weissmann made these false accusations against Passantino out of partisan animus and to distract from the contradictory aspects of Hutchinson’s testimony.
The lawsuit further claims that Weissmann’s false statements have caused significant damage to Passantino’s reputation and have resulted in him losing business and income. Passantino is seeking accountability for the defamation and the damages it has caused.
Passantino, a lawyer with a 30-year reputation, has previously worked with President Trump and his administration. The lawsuit argues that Weissmann’s false accusations were a means to attack Passantino’s reputation due to his affiliation with Trump.
In conclusion, former Trump White House lawyer Stefan Passantino has filed a defamation lawsuit against prosecutor Andrew Weissmann, alleging that Weissmann made false statements about Passantino’s involvement in coaching a witness to lie under oath. Passantino is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, claiming that Weissmann’s false accusations have caused significant damage to his reputation and financial losses. This lawsuit highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding the events of January 6 and the polarizing effects they continue to have on those involved.
