Extract from ABC News
A US congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol has voted unanimously to hold Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress.
Key points:
The congressional committee wants to speak to Mr Meadows about records he had turned over when he appeared to be co-operating with their subpoena
The committee said those records included real-time communications with individuals as the events of January 6 unfolded, including an organiser of the rally
The documents are also reported to show that Mr Meadows wrote in an email that the National Guard would be present on January 6 to "protect pro-Trump people"
The committee said it was left with no choice after Mr Meadows refused to cooperate with the investigation citing executive privilege, a legal principle protecting White House communications.
It said it wanted to speak to him about records he had turned over to the committee at a time when he appeared to be cooperating with their subpoena.
The Democrat-led select committee said those records included real-time communications with many individuals as the events of January 6 unfolded, among them an organiser of the rally.
The documents are also reported to show that Mr Meadows wrote in an email that the National Guard would be present on January 6 in order 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.
The matter will now go the full house. If it's upheld, the case will be referred to the Department of Justice.
Texts from Mr Trump's inner circle released
Mark Meadows is the third former Trump associate to face the threat of criminal charges over their refusal to cooperate with the committee, including former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who has been charged with two counts of contempt of Congress.
Liz Cheney, the investigating committee’s vice-chair, detailed a series of text messages Mr Meadows received on January 6 from a slew of people, including Fox News anchors and Donald Trump Jr.
In the texts, allies and those in Mr Trump’s inner circle attempted to reach him through his chief of staff, imploring him to take action against the violence that was taking place outside and inside the Capitol.
"The Capitol Police tweet is not enough."
Mr Meadows responded, saying: "I’m pushing it hard. I agree."
As
part of its list of questions for Mr Meadows, the panel says it wants
to know more about whether Mr Trump was engaged in discussions regarding
the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the
violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol
building.
The panel is aiming to develop the most comprehensive record yet of the attack, in which hundreds of Mr Trump's supporters forced their way past law enforcement officers, broke into the Capitol and interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.
Mr Meadows' testimony could be key, as he was Mr Trump's top aide at the time and was with him in the White House as the rioters breached the Capitol building.
ABC/wires
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