Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and longtime Trump social media manager Dan Scavino, the first Trump White House officials subpoenaed by the House’s Jan. 6 investigators, have yet to provide documents or testimony to investigators. The committee’s protracted, ongoing negotiations with both men have yet to yield breakthroughs. In Meadows’ case, it’s led to yet another threat of criminal contempt charges.

Recent public comments from panel members and other players signal that Meadows in particular is holding out on the committee as he awaits the outcome of Trump’s lawsuit aimed at keeping his White House records shielded from the select panel. The logjam highlights the challenges the committee faces in securing depositions from Trump’s confidants — even with the full power of the Justice Department on its side.

One member of the Jan. 6 panel said he doesn’t anticipate top Trump allies cooperating anytime soon.

“I think if it wasn’t the [Trump] lawsuit, they would invent something else or another piece of litigation to hang their hat on,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), one of the committee’s nine members. “So we don’t put a lot of stock behind it.”