Don Trump Jr. Admits Jan. 6 Riot 'Gone Too Far' In Text To Meadows

Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son, had begged ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to get his father to stop the deadly Capitol riot on Jan. 6, text messages revealed by the House select committee showed.

The committee investigating the insurrection at the Capitol released information Monday about texts sent to Meadows as the riot unfolded. One text message that committee vice chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, read aloud showed Don Jr. asking Meadows to get then-president Trump to condemn the riot, Business Insider reported.

“He's got to condemn this s*** ASAP,” Don Jr. allegedly told Meadows as a mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. “The Capitol Police tweet is not enough.”

When Trump still did not act to stop the riot, Don Jr. again reportedly texted Meadows, asking him to push for an Oval Office address. “We need an Oval Office address. He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand,” Don Jr. wrote.

Cheney said that several Fox News stars, including American commentator and Trump confidant Sean Hannity, also texted Meadows to push the president to act, adding that the riot is “destroying” the administration’s work.

“This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy,” Hannity wrote in a text message.

The text messages were revealed during Monday’s hearing to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusing to sit for a deposition with investigators to answer questions about Trump’s actions that led to the riot.

Meadows had previously handed over a slew of documents before he refused to cooperate with investigators.

Members of the committee voted to formally advance the criminal contempt report against the former chief of staff to the House floor for a vote, which is expected to be held Tuesday. If the vote succeeds in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi will certify the report to the United States attorney for the District of Columbia.

People found liable for contempt of Congress may be required to pay a fine and be imprisoned between one to 12 months, according to CNN.

Meadows is the latest Trump ally to have a criminal contempt report. The House select committee had previously approved a criminal contempt report against the former president aide Steve Bannon after he failed to comply with a subpoena deadline.