Appeals court rules Trump's former top aides must testify in January 6 case

Former President Donald Trump lost an Appeals Court ruling in D.C. that impacts the January 6 probe just minutes before he drove to to the DA's office in Manhattan courthouse.

The ruling, issued by a three-judge panel U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, could have far-reaching consequences – by requiring former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and other top aides to testify.

A federal grand jury is probing the 2020 election overturn effort by Trump and some of his allies, with Special Counsel Jack Smith taking a series of speedy investigatory actions. 

Under the sealed ruling, they will have access to some of the best informed people about machinations inside the Trump White House.  

Former White House Chief of Staff must testify before a grand jury, according to a federal Appeals Court ruling issued Tuesday

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell last month denied a move by Trump's legal team to block testimony by citing executive privilege. 

Trump's team filed an emergency appeal Monday to try to prevent them from testifying.

The grand jury is investigating failed efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, one of two probes into the former president being handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The legal action was swift.

The news came shortly before former President Trump drove to the Manhattan DA's office to be arrested

Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration homeland security official, is among those whose testimony Trump's team sought to block

A three-judge panel got a response from the Justice Department within two hours of the Trump filing, and issued its ruling early Tuesday, CNN reported. 

Trump's team could seek to appeal based on their executive privilege claims, which relates to advice the president receives from his staff.

Trump's team had also visited Chief Judge James Boasberg seeking an emergency stay, with the possibility the testimony could happen imminently.

A series of former top Trump White House aides have been ordered to testify in the probe.

Among them are former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, former deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino – who flew with Trump from Mar-a-Lago to New York Monday – and and former advisers Stephen Miller.

Others are former top Department of Homeland Security official Ken Cuccinelli, and aides Nick Luna and John McEntee.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled Tuesday