Now we learn the ex-president’s top man did comply with a Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoena. Initially former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows turned over a treasure trove of information including emails and texts to the January 6 Select Committee. After Donald Trump called him to task, Meadows went silent, ignoring a subpoena from the Select Committee, but not the DOJ one.
According to a CNN exclusive, he handed over the identical materials he provided to the January 6 Committee. These included his texts between November 2020 and President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Yet he did retain hundreds of his messages, because Meadows felt they fell under the executive privilege umbrella. As the highest person subpoenaed by the DOJ at this time, Meadows has not had to testify.
After months of silence, Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland has boosted his investigation up to full speed, showing he had been involved the entire time, but only going public recently. The Meadows’ subpoena related to the illegal attempts of Trump’s inner circle to further his fake “stolen” election and stir up an insurrection.
Thus far, the AG has sent out 30 subpoenas linked to Trump. These included those with his fundraising and campaign staffs. But Meadows was Garland’s biggest catch, because the former chief of staff was present throughout the entire failed government coup. Trump’s top man was a conduit to those involved in the uprising including those attached to a number of conspiracy theories.
The ex-president’s attorneys and Meadows’ attorney have told their clients to halt any communication between them. It is possible that the former chief of staff will be a fact witness. Regardless, that has not stopped them from talking — a number of times.
However, it appeared that the two men’s relationship was “not the same as it once was.”
A top deputy to Meadows, Ben Williamson, was also subpoenaed by the special grand jury. The DOJ told him to provide both testimony and records related to the 2020 coup. Attorney for the former president, John Eastman received a subpoena, too. And the FBI seized his cell phone, The USA TODAY reported:
‘Eastman earlier refused to answer questions from the House panel investigating the Capitol attack or a grand jury in Georgia based on his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.’
Former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, “coordinated the investigation of claims of voter fraud with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.’
‘Kerik’s lawyer Timothy Parlatore, told USA TODAY:
‘Kerik was willing to testify to federal investigators as he had already before the House committee. Kerik had already turned over examples of probable case of election fraud to the Justice Department for further investigation in late 2020.’
After the FBI presented a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, Meadows decided it was a good time to give his materials to the National Archive.
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
In Gloria Christie Reports & Three White Lions Substack newsletters. Christie is a political journalist for the liberal online newspaper The Bipartisan Report. Gloria Christie Report her newsletters are for people on the go. Written in her own unique style with a twist of humor in a briefer version of Bipartisan Report. Christie’s Mueller Report Adventures In Bite-Sizes a real-life compelling spy mystery (in progress). Find her here on Facebook. Or at Three White Lions her book on Amazon Kindle Vella.
