On June 9, the first of six hearings presenting the findings of the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection will be televised, with two prime time hearings airing on June 9th and 23rd and four morning hearings on 13th, 15th, 16th, 21st. Ahead of that hearing, however, those who texted then-chief of staff Mark Meadows tell reporters that one of the key areas of concern for the committee, whether Donald Trump could have stopped the attack but didn’t, has already been answered. He could have. He waited three hours before he did so.
Text messages pouring into Meadows’ phone as the insurrection took place came from congressmen, senators, Fox News “journalists,” and even Trump’s oldest son. Each insisted that Trump could act to stop the attack, saying “he’s got to condem (sic) this shit. Asap” (Trump, Jr.) and “TELL THEM TO GO HOME !!!” (Trump’s former chief of staff, Reince Priebus).
According to CNN:
‘CNN obtained the 2,319 text messages that Meadows selectively handed over to the January 6 committee in December before he stopped cooperating with the investigation. According to a source familiar with the committee’s investigation, the texts provide a valuable “road map” and show how Meadows was an enabler of Trump, despite being told there was no widespread election fraud.’
As you prepare to listen to the public hearings of the #Jan6thCommittee starting June 9, keep this in mind about the investigation those hearings will reveal: https://t.co/SPm4FvcxLU
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) June 2, 2022
Now, some of those who texted Meadows on that day admit to reporters, although many did so anonymously, that Trump could have stopped the attack at any time. From the moment the attack began until the time Trump finally released a video calling on the rioters to go home was a three-hour window, and one that the committee will focus on as a failure by the then-president to act. Meadows’ actions will also be up for discussion.
‘Two sources familiar with the committee’s investigation said it was remarkable that Meadows never seemed alarmed in the messages he sent on January 6, and that even in the midst of the violence, he appeared unwilling to stand up to Trump. “Even Don Jr. knew the right thing to do,” one source told CNN.’
Chiefs of staff and other aides to members of the Jan. 6 Committee were told on their weekly call with committee staff to brace for "more bombshells" ahead of the June 9 start to public hearings.https://t.co/0jFQeYoJe8
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 15, 2022
That failure to act could be the difference between a hearing that reveals an alarming look at a president and one that reveals an actual crime. Trump was impeached for a second time as a result of his actions on January 6, but was not convicted.
‘The upcoming January 6 hearings are expected to focus on the gap of 187 minutes it took Trump to release the video — as well as highlight some of the most notable texts that Meadows received and sent that day.’
Draft schedule for Jan. 6 Committee hearings:
6 hearings in total.
Prime-time hearings at 8pm on June 9 and June 23.
10am hearings on June 13, 15, 16, and 21.https://t.co/OYDDj4jC8Z
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 24, 2022
