The House of Representatives on Wednesday detained two more Donald Trump loyalists in contempt of the Jan. 6 panel’s investigation into the attack on the U.S. Capitol, but congressional efforts to find out the facts are being thwarted by an overly cautious Department of Justice.
By a vote of 220-203, the House of Representatives imprisoned Peter K. Navarro, Trump’s business adviser, and Dan Scavino Jr., who was in charge of Trump’s social media strategy, in criminal contempt of Congress for blocking subpoenas issued by the Jan. 6 committee. But this vote would be a futile gesture if the Justice Department refused to prosecute Navarro and Scavino.
Prosecutor Merrick Garland’s shame has already undermined the commission’s ability to obtain key witness evidence.
This is not an empty concern. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s shame has already undermined the commission’s ability to obtain evidence for a key witness, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. More than 110 days ago, the House of Representatives held Meadows in contempt of Congress and urged Garland to criminally prosecute him for interfering with his investigation.
Nothing happened. Rather than aiding a congressional investigation, the Department of Justice appears to be missing out on action. With Republicans likely to take control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, Garland’s delay could already prove fatal. in november garland Steve Bannon condemned, who pleaded not guilty to contempt of Congress. Bannon’s trial is now set for July — eight months later, despite the prosecution’s request for a trial date to be set in April.
If today’s indictment against Meadows has a similar timeline, the trial will occur after the November elections. Many Republicans have pointed out That if the party wins control of the House of Representatives in November, the January 6 commission investigation, as we know it, will be halted.
Congressional frustration with Garland’s petting has spread in public. Mamtaula received due reprimand from the committee last week when it voted to refer the contempt of Navarro and Scavino charges to the House of Representatives. Rep. Adam Schiff said, D- California. “Without enforcing its due process, Congress ceases to be an equal branch of government.” Representative Eileen Luria, of Virginia, was even more blunt: “Attorney General Garland, do your job so we can do ours.” The inaction of the Justice Department may encourage other Trump loyalists to challenge Congress. With Meadows seemingly evading responsibility for shirking his commitments, rebellious witnesses may fear no consequences for challenging the January 6 investigators.
The inaction of the Justice Department may encourage other Trump loyalists to challenge Congress.
according to Committee Report To justify the decision of contempt, Navarro “worked with Steve K. Bannon and others to develop and implement a plan to delay congressional approval, and ultimately change the outcome” of President Joe Biden’s election. The report also alleged that Scavino “worked with President Trump as part of the then-president’s campaign to reverse the election results. This campaign included, among other things, the dissemination of false information via social media…”
The role of the promoter seems more important. As Trump’s chief of staff, he served as a clearinghouse for communications about Trump’s efforts to overturn Biden’s election, as well as during the hours when rioters stormed the Capitol.
Collaborate at first. That’s why the January 6 committee did this Many of his text messages and emails about illegal efforts to prevent a peaceful transition of power, as well as contemporary reactions to insurgents trying to block congressional approval of a Biden victory.
But Meadows then backed down, withdrew his cooperation and refused to testify, claiming executive privilege justified his actions. Committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois express doubts That Meadows even released all relevant emails when he allegedly respected the commission’s subpoena.
Like Meadows, Navarro and Scavino made flimsy claims of executive privilege, as Trump claimed, to justify their non-compliance. Representative Jimmy Raskin, Democrat, described Navarro’s franchise claim as “hesitant. Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wu, one of two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee (Kinzinger is the other), Wed stressed That Navarro and Savino “simply cannot refuse to respond” to the commission’s subpoena, but must appear and assert any alleged privilege. The Biden administration has already openly undermined Scavino and Navarro’s franchise claims give it up.
In January, Meadows chose to ride back on Trump’s legal argument to the Supreme Court that executive privilege—which the Biden White House had abandoned—prevented the National Archives from submitting Trump White House documents to the Jan. 6 panel. Urging the court to immediately accept Trump’s appeal and ruling, Meadows’ attorney, George J. Terwilliger III, argued in a friend’s file that a court ruling upholding Trump’s claim for executive privilege would also force a narrowing or withdrawal of the subpoena to Meadows. The court later rejected Trump’s claim for the National Archives’ executive privilege, 8-1, without deciding whether the former president could assert executive privilege when the current president relinquishes it.
While the ruling did not address Meadows’ franchise claim, the finding weakens his purported justification for challenging the commission. Cheney warned Garland not to be dissuaded by Meadows’ claim to the franchise. Last week during the referral vote, I argued That the plaintiffs “must not apply any principle of immunity that would prevent Congress from fully revealing and addressing the causes of the January 6 attack.”
The promoter sat in the middle of the storm on January 6, to receive text messages On that day members of Congress while the Capitol were under siege by rioters. Donald Trump Jr sent a text message to Meadows during the siege urging him to tell his father to condemn the riots. Fox News hosts also sent Meadows a text message during the Capitol riots urging Trump to tell the rioters to leave. Meadows should be asked to testify about how he responded to these urgent pleas during the crucial hours the Capitol was under siege, including any communications he had with Trump. And most importantly, what Trump did or did not do in response.
The promoter may also be able to shed light on another mystery on January 6th – which is more than 7 hour gap In records of Trump’s legally required phone calls that day. With his closeness to Trump, he has relevant evidence about what really happened in the White House on that fateful day.
Faced with a criminal trial and a possible conviction, Meadows, Navarro, or Scavino might conclude that providing honest testimony and responsive documentation is better than retreating to protect those responsible for the Capitol riots. But that won’t happen unless the Garland Department of Justice does its job, Luria said.
Meadows’ text messages and other White House documents would only be fully understood if he was asked to testify not only about these communications, but what he did in response. Our democracy requires nothing less.
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