Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
U Committee on the Capitol Storm
Trump’s ex-chief of staff ready to testify
A committee of inquiry wants to investigate the background to the storming of the US Capitol in Washington. The then Chief of Staff of Trump should also make statements. After an initial refusal, Mark Meadows now agrees to appear before the panel. Will he unpack against his old boss?
Former US President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has agreed to work with the Committee of Inquiry into the storming of the Capitol. Meadows has made documents available to the committee and will “appear soon for a first testimony,” said Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives committee of inquiry.
Meadows had initially resisted a summons from the committee. He relied on an alleged executive privilege of Trump. This allows the republican ex-president to withhold certain information, which is why he could not testify. The Democrats argue, however, that prerogative exists only for incumbent presidents, not for former presidents.
Meadows’ attorney, George Terwilliger, said he was working with the committee “to see if we can reach an agreement” that would not force Meadows to forego executive privilege.
Radical Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6th, when the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election on November 3rd was to be certified there. The attack, which made headlines around the world, killed five people. The investigative committee set up by the House of Representatives is supposed to clarify the exact background of the attack.
The panel has summoned a number of former Trump employees – including Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon. He had refused to testify before the committee. The House of Representatives then initiated legal action against him.