January 6 panel unveils text messages to Meadows from Don Jr. and Fox hosts as
The graphic messages illustrated the dismay of the former President’s inner circle as the Capitol riot worsened, and they served as evidence of Trump’s “supreme dereliction of duty,” the committee’s vice chairwoman, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, said Monday.
Cheney made the motion for the committee to vote for the contempt resolution, which passed unanimously in the 9-member committee. The full House is expected to vote on the resolution on Tuesday.
Those texts, as several members of the committee noted, were already turned over to the panel and are not covered by any claim of privilege — which Meadows has continued to assert since reversing his decision to cooperate with the investigation.
Meadows did not address the text messages while discussing the committee’s vote with Fox News’ Sean Hannity later Monday.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing, but not surprising,” Meadows said.
Committee releases Meadows’ texts with lawmakers and Trump’s son
At Monday night’s meeting, the committee publicly released graphics that include texts sent to Meadows during the days around the insurrection.
The committee pointed to texts exchanged between Meadows and lawmakers, Fox News personalities and Trump’s eldest son about the urgency for the former president to act to stop the siege.
Texts from unnamed lawmakers sent to Meadows said that former Vice President Mike Pence “should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all.”
Cheney said other texts were sent in real time about the events as they unfolded.
“These text messages leave no doubt. The White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol,” Cheney said. “One text Mr. Meadows received said quote ‘We are under siege here at the Capitol.'”
“In a third, ‘Mark, protesters are literally storming the Capitol, breaking windows on doors, rushing in. Is Trump going to say something?’ A fourth, ‘There’s an armed standoff at the House chamber door.’ And another from someone inside the Capitol: ‘We are all helpless.'”
Cheney also read texts from news personalities from Fox News and Trump’s own children.
“As the violence continued, one of the President’s sons texts Mr. Meadows, ‘He’s got to condemn this ASAP. The capitol police tweet is not enough,’ Donald Trump Jr. texted. Meadows responded, ‘I am pushing it hard. I agree.'”
Cheney continued: “Donald Trump Jr. texted again and again, urging action by the President. Quote, ‘We need an Oval Office address. He has to lead now. It has gone too far. And gotten out of hand,’ end quote. But hours passed without necessary action by the President,” Cheney said.
When the events of the certification of the Electoral College eventually happened in the early hours of January 7, Meadows received a text calling January 6 a “terrible day.”
“Yesterday was a terrible day. We tried everything we could in our objections to the 6 states,” the text read. “I’m sorry nothing worked.”
‘Key witnesses’ to provide testimony
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, took the opportunity on Monday to highlight the committee’s progress and paint Meadows, as well as a handful of other Trump allies who continue to defy the…
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