WASHINGTON – In mid-January 2021, just days before President Joe Biden took office, Republican Republican Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia sent a message to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to tell him that some members of the The Republican Congress has suggested in private that former President Trump should declare martial law, according to texts received by CBS News and first reported by CNN. Green testified last week that she did not remember encouraging the president to impose martial law.
“In our personal chat with members only, a few say that the only way to save our republic is for Trump to call for a Marshall Act,” Green wrote to Meadows on January 17, 2021. “I don’t know about these things.” I just wanted you to tell him. They stole this election. We all know. Then they will destroy our country. Please tell him to declassify as much as possible so we can follow Biden and everyone else! “
This is one of the many texts sent from Green to Meadows in the post-election period, around January 6, 2021. Green also told Meadows that “we think” the people who attacked the Capitol on January 6 are “Antifas” dressed as supporters of Trump. Meadows passed on his text messages to the January 6 commission investigating the attack, and then refused to cooperate further with the commission.
CNN first reported the lyrics, along with more than 2,000 texts that Meadows exchanged with leading aides, television personalities, members of Congress and GOP activists.
It is not clear from the recordings whether Meadows reacted.
Green, who is battling a challenge to prevent her from appearing on the ballot in Georgia, testified at an administrative hearing on Friday that she did not remember encouraging the president to impose martial law as a way to stay in power.
“I don’t remember,” Green told the court on Friday.
Green also sent a message to Meadows during the attack. “Mark, I’ve just been told there’s an active shooter on the first floor of the Capitol. “Please tell the president to calm people down, this is not the way to solve anything,” she wrote on January 6, 2021.
On January 7, the day after the Capitol attack, Green sent a message to Meadows that “we tried our best in our opposition to the six states” and she blamed the anarchists for the Capitol melee, although she offered no evidence to support her accusation. .
“I’m sorry nothing happened,” she continued. “I do not think President Trump caused the attack on the Capitol. It’s not his fault. Antifa was involved in the crowing and incited him, and people followed him safely. But when people try everything and nobody listens and nothing works, I guess they think they have no choice. Absolutely no excuse, and I completely deny it all, but after year-round closures and stolen elections, people say they have no choice. I defended Trump last night on Newsmax. He was the greatest president. I will continue to defend it. And if someone attacks you. I hope you’re okay. I feel bad for everyone. ”
“Thank you, Marjorie,” Meadows said.
Green also sent an SMS to Meadows before January 6, December 31, 2020, although it is not clear from the records whether Meadows responded.
“Good morning, Mark, I’m here in the District of Columbia,” Green wrote on December 31. We need to get organized for the 6th. I would like to meet Rudy Giuliani again. We couldn’t talk to him for long. Also anyone who can help. We are recruiting many board members. And we need to set out the best case for each country. ”
Others sent text messages to Meadows on Jan. 6 after protesters violated the Capitol at about 2 p.m. In a text confirmed by CBS News, Donald Trump Jr. sent Meadows: “He must condemn this shit. As soon as possible. not enough. ”
“This is the one you go to on the mattresses,” Trump Jr. wrote to Meadows. “They will try to fuck up his entire legacy if it gets worse.”
Trump Jr.’s tweets are probably a response to his father’s tweet at 2:38 p.m., which does not mention the riots: “Please support our police and Capitol law enforcement. They really are on the side of our country. Stay calm! ”
Meadows himself provided the committee’s texts, and Republican Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, told Face the Nation last month that he “is not sure Meadows betrayed everything at all.”
“He cooperated with us for a while, and then, in an attempt to make Donald Trump happy, he stopped cooperating,” Kinzinger said. “We gave him enough space to come back and continue. He didn’t.”
Catherine Watson contributed to this report.
Attack on the US Capitol
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Robert Costa is CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent based in Washington, DC
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