Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump, has provided testimony to a grand jury as part of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing two individuals familiar with the matter.
Meadows is considered a significant witness in both the inquiries related to Trump’s actions before and after the 2020 election. The exact timing of his testimony and the specific aspects he was questioned about remain unclear.
The special counsel’s investigation focuses on two distinct lines of inquiry. The first is centered around Trump’s attempts to retain power following his electoral defeat, leading to the violent attack on the Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. The second investigation pertains to Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving office and potential obstruction of efforts to retrieve them.
Meadows’ subdued presence during the investigations has perplexed those close to Trump, who believe he could offer valuable insights.
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As noted by The Times, Meadows has tangential connections to a potentially crucial piece of evidence uncovered by investigators: an audio recording of a meeting in which Trump discussed a document that appeared to be in front of him, suggesting that he should have declassified it but was unable to do so after leaving office.
This recording challenges Trump’s assertion that he had declassified all materials held at his properties for several months after his departure from the presidency.
