Back in the United States, the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection has recommended former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows be found in criminal contempt of Congress. Meadows had agreed to cooperate with a subpoena from the committee but reversed course last week just ahead of his scheduled deposition. On Monday, the committee revealed Meadows played a larger role than previously known in plans to overturn the results of the 2020 election, as well as a failed effort by White House insiders to push Trump to call off the Capitol riot. The committee’s vice chair, Republican Congressmember Liz Cheney, read text messages sent by three Fox News hosts to Meadows as the insurrection played out on live TV on January 6.

Rep. Liz Cheney: “'Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home … this is hurting all of us … he is destroying his legacy,' Laura Ingraham wrote. 'Please get him on TV. Destroying everything you have accomplished,' Brian Kilmeade texted. Quote, 'Can he make a statement? … Ask people to leave the Capitol,' Sean Hannity urged. As the violence continued, one of the president’s sons texted Mr. Meadows, quote, ’He’s got to condemn this shit ASAP.’”

Although the Fox News hosts were pushing Trump to call off the insurrection, when they were on the air they said they believed the protesters were antifa.