Despite Donald Trump’s attempt to hide what happened at the US capitol, the Jan. 6 committee continues to investigate the attack at the highest levels of the former president’s administration.
News: Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows is cooperating with the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot and is providing records and agreeing to appear for an initial interview https://t.co/NVV13UTzST
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) November 30, 2021
Subpoenas have been issued to a number of Trump officials and associates, from Trump’s former campaign manager and White House strategist, Steve Bannon, to Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. Bannon ignored his subpoena and was recently charged with contempt of Congress. When Meadows failed to honor the subpoena, his contempt charge was expected. Breaking news from CNN shows why that charge hasn’t come.
Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a statement that:
‘Mr. Meadows has been engaging with the Select Committee through his attorney,” Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi who chairs the committee said in a statement. “He has produced records to the committee and will soon appear for an initial deposition. The Select Committee expects all witnesses, including Mr. Meadows, to provide all information requested and that the Select Committee is lawfully entitled to receive. The Committee will continue to assess his degree of compliance with our subpoena after the deposition.’
Steve Bannon wants to generate some headlines and media attention by filing a series of “frivolous” legal complaints to fight his criminal contempt charges, according to a new 10-page filing from the Justice Department. https://t.co/WluvI62TyM
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) November 30, 2021
Although Meadows has cooperated so far, there is no guarantee he will continue to do so. The former chief of staff and the lawyers for the Jan. 6 committee are still working out the definition of what information he has been asked to divulge that could fall under the executive privilege claim Trump has made in court for months. Other disagreements on technical issues appear to have been put to rest.
‘Meadows’ lawyer George Terwilliger said in a statement to CNN that there is now an understanding between the two parties on how information can be exchanged moving forward, stating that his client and the committee are open to engaging on a certain set of topics as they work out how to deal with information that the committee is seeking that could fall under executive privilege.’
BREAKING: Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows to cooperate with Jan. 6 select committee. https://t.co/Gd7qidO8Yb
— ABC News (@ABC) November 30, 2021
That’s not to say that several other issues are not still pending. While sources say that Meadows continues to engage with the committee in their investigation, it is not clear how much he has yet to turn over or answer questions about.
A source familiar with the matter told CNN that:
‘It’s not incorrect to say he has cooperated to some extent, but he hasn’t completely fulfilled his obligation and we need to see what happens. But Meadows doesn’t want to be held in contempt. But how much he is cooperating, and how much he will cooperate remains an open question. He has done some things … but he has not fulfilled all his obligations … and it is not entirely clear yet how much he will cooperate,’
"This guy is afraid to go and tell the truth about what happened under oath, and that's what all of these legal skirmishes are about," says @neal_katyal on Steve Bannon's attempts to dodge the Jan. 6 Committee
— The Beat with Ari Melber on MSNBC 📺 (@TheBeatWithAri) November 30, 2021
