Trump ex-chief of staff Meadows ends cooperation with Capitol riot panel

FILE PHOTO: White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in Washington
FILE PHOTO: White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speaks to reporters following a television interview, outside the White House in Washington, U.S. October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON – Mark Meadows, who served as former President Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff, has decided not to cooperate with the congressional committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, and the panel said on Tuesday it is prepared to pursue contempt charges against him.

Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives Select Committee, said in a statement that the panel would take action if Meadows fails to show up for a deposition scheduled for Wednesday.