Former President Donald Trump's ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has ceased cooperation with the House Select Committee investigating the deadly failed insurrection of January 6, when a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol to prevent congressional certification of Biden's victory.
As a result, the Committee is recommending Meadows be held in contempt of Congress, and they're citing documents he's already turned over to make the case for why he should be compelled to testify before the committee.
One such document was a powerpoint contained in an email of Meadows' with harrowing hypotheticals for how Trump could override the people's vote and install himself for another term.
If that wasn't concerning enough, a report compiled by the committee details that further correspondence from Meadows.
According to the report:
"Mr. Meadows sent an email to an individual about the events on January 6 and said that the National Guard would be present to 'protect pro Trump people' and that many more would be available on standby."
Meadows sent the email on January 5—the night before the insurrection.
The implication, of course, is that Meadows and, by extension, the Trump administration weren't concerned with protecting those who weren't "pro Trump" as the former President's supporters shattered windows, ransacked offices, beat police officers, and called for the execution of lawmakers.
It's worth noting that it was hours after the insurrection was underway that Trump finally told his supporters to vacate the Capitol, noting that he loved them and that they were "very special." At least one Republican lawmaker has said Trump was overjoyed at reports of the riot.
People were deeply disturbed by this latest revelation.
It feels like we learn something new every day that is both unsurprising and also horrible and a CLEAR indication they were planning a coup, but it ALSO feels like nothing will ever happen to invoke accountability which would further mean, it’ll get worse, not better. https://t.co/3WLnJYWMRQ
— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) December 13, 2021
The National Guard was on standby to protect “pro Trump people”??? What about lawmakers and overwhelmed Capitol police??? More evidence that January 6 was an inside job. My God. https://t.co/eptV0AIG0C
— Jennifer Cohn ✍🏻 📢 (@jennycohn1) December 13, 2021
It is not an understatement to say that Trump and his cronies tried to overthrow the government, that they committed treason at the highest level, and justice won’t be served until they are held accountable. Lock them up, every last one of them. https://t.co/TeEjAkZx7S
— G̸l̵i̶t̷c̷h̸ ̵T̵V̶ ̸B̴o̷t̵ (@GlitchTVBot) December 13, 2021
What else do you need to see? #AttemptedCoup https://t.co/MS6Ya4Ocn8
— Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 13, 2021
National Guard protection for a routine tourist visit? Seems like there was some anticipation of violence and that Meadows was taking steps to protect the perpetrators of the violence rather than the members of Congress.
How is this traitor still walking free? https://t.co/yNphBfoeqs
— Brian MD (@bone00afide) December 13, 2021
This is stunning. https://t.co/yWHvEijQaK
— Paul Flahive (@paulflahive) December 13, 2021
Others weren't surprised.
Oh wow. Shocker. https://t.co/iTWmIxhEFr pic.twitter.com/jzgJegk5Cu
— The Best Pizza Connoisseur (@thedeepdishking) December 13, 2021
None of this is surprising.
Hey @EzraACohen you clenching up yet? You should. https://t.co/xCXeLlbsNK
— Jim Stewartson, Antifascist, #RIPQ 🇺🇸🏴☠️ (@jimstewartson) December 12, 2021
This should surprise no one. Trump always thought the military belonged to him personally. Rather than to the American people. His politicization of the military remains one of the most damaging parts of his toxic legacy. #PresidentMayhem #OurEnemiesAreCelebrating https://t.co/ciUYrXnklX
— Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) December 13, 2021
The committee is likely to introduce more revelations as the investigation continues.
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