Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows has been held accountable for criminal contempt by Congress

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A U.S. congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol voted unanimously to convict Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows of criminal contempt in Congress.

Key points:

The congressional committee wanted to talk to Mr Meadows about the records he had returned when he appeared to be cooperating with their subpoena.

The committee said those records included real-time communications with individuals as the events opened on Jan. 6, including a rally organizer.

Documents also reportedly show that Mr Meadows wrote in an email that the National Guard was present on January 6 to “protect pro-Trump people”

The committee said it had no choice after Mr Meadows refused to cooperate with the investigation citing executive privilege, a legal principle that protects communications with the White House.

It said he wanted to talk about the records he had turned over to the committee at the time he seemed to be cooperating with their subpoena.

The Democrat-led select committee said those records included real-time communications with several individuals as the events opened on Jan. 6, among them a rally organizer.

Documents were also reported to show that Mr Meadows wrote in an email that the National Guard was present on January 6 to “protect pro-Trump people”.

“Whatever legacy he thought he left in the House, this is his legacy now,” Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson said of Mr Meadows.

Mr Meadows’ testimony could be key, as he was Mr Trump’s top aide at the time and was with him at the White House as rioters stormed the Capitol building. (Reuters: Leah Millis)

“His former colleagues chose him for criminal prosecution because he wouldn’t answer questions about what he knew about a brutal attack on our democracy. That’s his legacy.”

The matter will now go all over the house. If it is substantial, the case will be referred to the Department of Justice.

Texts were released from Mr Trump’s inner circle

Mark Meadows is the third former Trump associate to face the threat of criminal charges for their refusal to cooperate with the committee, including former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who has been charged with two counts of contempt of Congress.

What is the January 6 Committee? And who do they want to talk to?

The U.S. House committee voted to contempt former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon in Congress over the Capitol riots subpoena.

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Liz Cheney, vice-chair of the investigating committee, detailed a series of text messages Mr Meadows received on Jan. 6 from several people, including Fox News anchors and Donald Trump Jr.

In the texts, Mr Trump’s allies and those in Mr Trump’s inner circle tried to reach him through his chief of staff, urging him to take action against the violence taking place outside and inside the Capitol.

“He needs to condemn it … Asap,” Mr Trump Jr. wrote.

“The Capitol Police tweet is not enough.”

Mr Meadows replied, saying: “I insist on it very hard. I agree.”

As part of its list of questions for Mr Meadows, the panel said it wanted to know more about whether Mr Trump was engaging in discussions about the National Guard’s response, which was delayed for several hours as the violence escalated. and the rioters defeated the police guard. the Capitol building.

The panel aims to build the most comprehensive record of the attack. (AP: Jose Luis Magana)

The panel aims to build the most comprehensive record of the attack, in which hundreds of Mr Trump supporters were forced to go through law enforcement officials, entered the Capitol and delayed certification of President Joe’s victory. Biden.

Mr Meadows ’testimony may have been key, as he was Mr Trump’s top aide at the time and was with him at the White House as rioters stormed the Capitol building.

ABC/wires

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