Update (Dec. 15, 2021): A day after the House committee investigating January’s Capitol riots sent its recommendation of contempt charges for former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to the full House, the House voted to send that recommendation to the Justice Department. The video above shows both the committee’s and the full House’s vote. The full House vote was mostly along party lines at 222 to 208. It also marked the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s.
Tuesday night’s vote came after hours of debate on the House floor. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) began debate by reading texts that reveal members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trump’s son urged Meadows to persuade Former President Donald Trump to act quickly to stop the riots. Meanwhile Republicans argued the vote was a distraction from the House’s work, with one member calling it “evil” and “un-American.”
“Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said.
If the DOJ decides to prosecute Meadows, he could face up to a year in prison if convicted.
Original Story (Dec. 14, 2021): In a unanimous 9-0 vote, the House committee investigating January’s Capitol riots sent its recommendation of contempt charges for former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to the House Monday night. The video above shows the vote. A full House vote to send the recommendation to the Justice Department is expected later Tuesday.
“The Select Committee’s report referring Mr. Meadows for criminal contempt charges is clear and compelling,” committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in opening statements before Monday’s vote. “As White House chief of staff, Mr. Meadows played a role in or was witness to key events leading up to and including the January 6th assault on the United States Capitol. Don’t let lawsuits or op-eds about executive privilege by Mr. Meadows or his representatives confuse you.”
The lawsuit Rep. Thompson referenced was filed last week by Meadows against the committee, each member, and House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). In a Monday letter to Thompson, Meadows’ attorney George Terwilliger said the contempt vote would be “unjust” since Meadows was one of Trump’s top aides and therefore should be afforded executive privilege to shield their private conversations. Terwilliger warned the recommendation of contempt charges a senior presidential aide by the committee “would do great damage to the institution of the Presidency.”
In her opening statements Monday, vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) detailed some of the texts obtained by the committee from Meadows before he ceased cooperating. Rep. Cheney said the texts “leave no doubt the White House knew exactly what was happening” at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
“One text Mr. Meadows received said, quote, ‘We are under siege up here at the Capitol.’ Another, quote, ‘They have breached the Capitol.’ In a third, ‘Mark, protestors are literally storming the Capitol. Breaking windows on doors. Rushing in. Is Trump going to say something,’” Cheney said. “Dozens of texts, including from Trump administration officials, urged immediate action by the President. Quote, ’POTUS has to come out firmly and tell protestors to dissipate. Someone is going to get killed.’ In another, ‘Mark, he needs to stop this. Now.’ A third, in all caps, ‘TELL THEM TO GO HOME.’ A fourth, and I quote, ‘POTUS needs to calm this s*** down.’”
Depending on Tuesday’s House vote, Meadows could become the second person to have the committee’s contempt recommendation make it all the way to the DOJ. Longtime Trump ally Steven Bannon was indicted last month.
