Mark Meadows' refusal to testify to Jan. 6 committee even as Trump family members come forward raises questions

In the ongoing investigation by the US congressional committee into the Capitol insurrection, Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was revealed as a central figure in the probe. Analysts have questioned why Meadows still would not testify before the committee despite members of the Trump family coming forward.

On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Thursday, the panel discussed the testimony of Donald Trump Jr, who spoke with the committee this week. Trump Jr. is the third member of the former president’s family to speak with the committee, following Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Trump Jr.’s fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle also spoke with the committee.

New York Times reporter Peter Baker agreed with host Joe Scarborough, who cited previous reports about Meadows’ text messages and other details about what the former president was doing as the riots were taking place. Baker noted that it was surprising to see who was willing to speak with the committee and who was being blocked from speaking with the panel. Baker even cited Trump adviser Stephen Miller speaking with the committee.

“So why is that that Mark Meadows is not speaking? Why is he still resisting and others who were aides to the president who were advisers, Steve Bannon, and the others still refusing if his own family is speaking to the committee? It makes you wonder what they know and what is going on within Trump’s world that some would resist and others would not,” said Baker.

Meadows has initially cooperated with the committee until walking back the cooperation, likely at Trump’s direction. Congress has already referred Meadows to the Justice Department for contempt; charges have yet to be made. Bannon was already indicted by the DOJ for contempt.

The text messages to Meadows leading up to January 6 have also implicated several Republican members of Congress, such as Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as well as former Texas GOP Governor Rick Perry. Greene called for Trump to declare martial law following his loss to Joe Biden to remain in power.

The message dates January 17, with Greene saying that she and several other Republican members of Congress said that the only way to save the country was for Trump to declare “Marshall law.”

“I don’t know on these things. I just wanted you to tell him. They stole this election. We all know. They will destroy our country next. Please tell him to declassify as much as possible so we can go after Biden and anyone else!” said Greene.