Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has been briefed on intelligence reports pointing to the potential for violence in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to new evidence released Friday night as the House of Representatives committee investigates the riot.
Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as a special assistant in the White House during the Trump administration, told the commission of inquiry that “there are fears” expressed in Meadows the day before that a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, according to recently published transcripts of witnesses. indications.
It was unclear what Meadows had done with intelligence, Hutchinson said.
“I only remember Mr. Ornato coming in and saying we have intelligence reports that there could be potential violence on the 6th,” Hutchinson said, apparently referring to Anthony Ornato, a senior secret service official. “And Mr. Meadows said, ‘Okay. Let’s talk about it. “
Mark Meadows was informed of intelligence reports showing the potential for violence in the Capitol on January 6, 2021. REUTERS
Hutchinson’s testimony was presented by lawmakers at the federal court in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to force Meadows to meet with the commission after he tried them in an attempt to prevent him from speaking in the minutes.
The elected committee said on Friday that Meadows had initially handed over 2,319 text messages, but had detained more than 1,000 others on the basis of a privilege of the executive branch that had been revoked by President Biden.
Friday’s bill includes a number of new texts Meadow presented to the committee, including some Republicans in the House of Representatives urging him to act.
Riots in support of Donald Trump are expected to gather at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. AP
A spokesman, Jim Jordan of Ohio, later suggested on January 5 that Vice President Mike Pence “should call for all the votes he said were unconstitutional because there were no votes at all.”
Meadows replied to Jordan by SMS early the next morning. “It simply came to our notice then. I’m not sure that’s going to happen. ”
Pennsylvania spokesman Scott Perry sent an SMS to Meadows on December 26: “Mark, I’m just registering while the time goes by. 11 days to 1/6 and 25 days to the opening. We have to go!”
Representative Scott Perry sent messages to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on December 26, 2021. Getty Images
According to testimony released Friday, Hutchinson also described several calls involving Meadows and members of the House’s Freedom Caucasus in late November and early December.
In the talks, participants discussed what Pence’s role could be on January 6, in addition to the ceremonial role he had to play in verifying the election results.
With AP wires
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