Trump’s lackeys would rather defy US Congress than anger their old boss. Sad! | Lloyd Green

Bannon and Meadows are trying to become heroes for Trump's base - and secure seats at the table in the event of a second Trump presidency

Late Tuesday night, the House of Representatives voted to hold Mark Meadows, Donald Trump's fourth and final chief of staff, in criminal contempt of Congress. Whether Meadows is formally charged is now up to the justice department and a federal grand jury.

If indicted, Meadows would be the second member of the Trump administration under a cloud of pending prosecution - alongside Steve Bannon, Trump's former campaign guru, who also played an integral role in the run-up to the 6 January riot at the US Capitol.

Lloyd Green is an attorney in New York. He was opposition research counsel to George HW Bush's 1988 campaign and served in the Department of Justice from 1990 to 1992