Washington DC - The US House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack has paved the way for potential contempt proceedings against then-President Donald Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows.

The select committee unanimously adopted a report on Monday evening accusing Meadows of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

Meadows had initially agreed to attend a deposition with the select committee, but then refused to appear.

The next step is for the full House of Representatives to vote.

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President Joe Biden's Democrats have a slim majority in the House. If the majority agrees with the committee's recommendation, the case will go to the Justice Department, which could indict Meadows for contempt of Congress.

Meadows is in a "unique position to provide important information about the events of January 6, 2021," the report said. The 62-year-old is an important witness and stayed in the White House during the storming of the Capitol.

On Monday, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the committee, read out incriminating texts that Meadows had received on the day of the attack from prominent figures, who were begging for Trump to intervene and call off the riot.

"We cannot be satisfied with incomplete answers or half truths," Cheney said, insisting that Meadows should have to explain his role in the shocking events.

Steve Bannon, Trump's former political adviser, has already been indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for not complying with similar subpoena issued by the January 6 committee.