News Desk: US lawmakers investigating the January Capitol riot say they will hold former Trump chief of staff, Mark Meadows, in criminal contempt.
The House Select Committee said it had “no choice” but to seek charges over his refusal to comply with its inquiry.
Meadows had previously provided the bipartisan panel with information, but said this week he would not co-operate.
On Wednesday, he sued the committee members, seeking to nullify subpoenas they issued.
The suit alleges that “overly broad and unduly burdensome” subpoenas sent to Meadows violate legal protections for senior advisors to a president, and charge the committee with using excessively broad subpoenas to obtain his phone records.
Meadows will be the third ex-Trump aide to be held in contempt by the panel.
Donald Trump had urged his former aides to reject any requests to testify in front of the House panel, claiming executive privilege exempts them from cooperation.
The House committee will next vote to hold Mr Meadows in contempt. If the House of Representatives upholds with charge, the case will be referred to the Justice department, which has the final say on bringing charges.
