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Support Joe Collins for Congress!The U.S. House Jan. 6 committee has voted to advance criminal contempt charges against former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
In response to the panel's unanimous vote, Meadows faces a House floor vote, expected Tuesday, on whether to refer him to the Justice Department for criminal charges. (RELATED: Meadows Done Cooperating With Jan. 6 Committee)
Before the Jan. 6 committee voted on Monday night, ranking Republican Liz Cheney read several text messages Meadows received during the riot, including texts from Donald Trump Jr. and three Fox News hosts.
WATCH:
Full @RepLizCheney statement on holding Mark Meadows in contempt, including texts from Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Brian Kilmeade and others:
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 14, 2021
"These text messages leave no doubt…multiple Fox News hosts knew the president needed to act immediately. They texted Mr. Meadows." pic.twitter.com/KxrVMS4CTZ
Why Did Meadows Stop Cooperating?
Meadows initially cooperated with the select committee, before declining to answer questions that he maintains are shielded by executive privilege.
While Sean Hannity didn't ask about Meadows's text messages in an interview Monday night, Newsmax's Rob Schmitt did.
WATCH:
While Fox News' primetime stars are ignoring the texts they sent to Mark Meadows, News anchor Rob Schmitt — while saying the story is "grossly exaggerated" — does ask Meadows tonight about the texts.
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) December 14, 2021
Meadows says the committee "tried to weaponize text messages selectively." pic.twitter.com/W5OELNMu2z
Mediaite further reports:
“They've got reports of text messages [the January 6 committee says] you gave them that show Fox hosts saying, ‘Hey, you gotta get this under control, Trump needs to say something,'” Schmitt said. “Don Jr. saying something. What's your response to all this tonight?”
Meadows, in response, accused the House Jan. 6 committee of trying to “weaponize” the communications he turned over.
“We've tried very hard, in a very transparent and accommodating way, to share non privileged information,” Meadows said. “And what we found out tonight is that not only did that just get disregarded, but then they tried to weaponize text messages, selectively leaked them, to put out a narrative that the president didn't act.”
SEE ALSO: Judge Holds Authorities in Contempt Over Jan. 6 Riot Case
Schmitt went on to ask Meadows if he intends to cooperate further with the committee. Meadows replied that he plans to protect his communications with Trump, which the former president claims fall under executive privilege, until the courts tell him otherwise.
Observers expect the House to refer Meadows for prosecution.
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