Jan. 6 committee moving forward with contempt charges against Meadows

The House committee investigating the events around the Jan. 6 riot told an attorney for Mark Meadows that it was moving forward with contempt charges against the former Trump chief of staff due to his not appearing before a second scheduled deposition on Wednesday.

In a letter addressed to Meadows’ attorney George Terwilliger III, Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) noted that Meadows had previously snubbed scheduled depositions with the panel once before.

"The Select Committee is left with no choice but to advance contempt proceedings and recommend that the body in which Mr. Meadows once served refer him for criminal prosecution," Thompson wrote.

The Mississippi Democrat's letter came a day after Meadows indicated he would refuse to sit for Wednesday's deposition, a reversal from the panel's announcement last week that Meadows would “soon appear for an initial deposition.” That led to the panel threatening Meadows with a contempt charge later on Tuesday.

Meadows, who was former President Trump's chief of staff during the day of the riot, is accusing the select committee of abusing its powers and undermining the executive privilege authority invoked by Trump and several members of his inner circle, a claim first reported by CNN.

Thompson acknowledged that while some documents had been provided by Meadows to the Jan. 6 committee for their investigation, the House chairman said that other documents had been withheld “based on c... (Read more)

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