D.C. District Court Judge Beryl Howell rejected former President Donald Trump’s Claims of executive privilege, forcing several Aides and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to testify before a grand jury hearing evidence in the Department of Justice’s probe on January 6.
The decision, first reported by ABC News, is one of the last Howell has made before stepping down as chief judge.
Howell’s decision means several of Trump’s aides during the January 6 Capitol attack would have to give testimony; this includes those who appeared before the grand jury but refused to testify.
The ruling is especially significant for Meadows as he successfully dodged a Congressional Subpoena requiring him to appear before the Select Committee investigating January 6.
The panel identified Meadows as a crucial piece of the attempts to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 Presidential election.
Despite recommendations from the now-defunct January 6 Panel, the DOJ refused to charge Meadows with contempt of Congress.
However, the DOJ would still pursue Meadows to testify in the department’s investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, subpoenaing him in February.
Howell’s decision also affects another Trump aide who dodged the House Select Committee subpoena and didn’t get charged with contempt of Congress — Dan Scavino, Trump’s communications guru.
The decision also requires former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, and Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli to testify.
The trio is joined by Stephen Miller, former Director of the Presidential Personnel Office John McEntee, and Trump’s assistant Nick Luna.
