Mark Meadows at Risk of Criminal Contempt Charges

The House voted to recommend charges against the former Chief of Staff.

The House voted to recommend charges against the former Chief of Staff.

On the urgings of the January 6 Panel, which is continuing to investigate the events of the riot and insurrection that occurred on January 6, 2021, former chief of staff to the Trump Administration Mark Meadows may face criminal contempt charges. The House of Representatives voted today to recommend the charges against Meadows, and if he is found guilty, he could spend up to a year in prison.

“History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken,” said Bennie Thompson, the committee’s chairman.

The major linchpin to the Panel’s claim against Meadows is a recently-released series of text messages exchanged between Meadows and members of Congress, Fox News hosts, and Donald Trump Jr. All of these parties messaged Meadows as the January 6 attack was occurring, urging him to speak to outgoing President Donald Trump and request that he make a formal address condemning the rioters.

“We need an Oval address,” Trump Jr.’s message read. “He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand.”

“Hey Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home,” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham wrote. “This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.”

According to the members of the panel, these messages call into question what was occurring at the White House when the insurrection was going on. “These texts leave no doubt,” Liz Cheney, the panel’s vice-chairwoman said. “The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol.”