Jan. 6 panel unanimously refers Trump to DOJ for criminal charges
The congressional committee probing the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol on Monday concluded its proceedings by unanimously voting to recommend that Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Justice Department investigate former President Donald Trump and some of his associates for four crimes in connection with the deadly insurrection.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the House select committee on the January 6 attack and lead manager of Trump’s historic second impeachment after the insurrection, said during Monday’s hearing that the four alleged crimes are influencing or impeding an official proceeding of the U.S. government; conspiring to defraud the U.S.; unlawfully, knowingly, or willingly making false statements to the federal government; and assisting or engaging in insurrection against the United States.
The committee’s recommendation follows more than 1,000 witness interviews and 10 public hearings examining the far-right insurrection by supporters of Trump and his “Big Lie” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The panel previously found that Trump disseminated lies about the election; that he was part of a plan to put forth false electors; and that he pressed Republican state officials, the DOJ, and then-Vice President Mike Pence to participate in the plot.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who chairs the January 6 committee, said during his opening remarks Monday that Trump— who has already announced his campaign for the 2024 GOP nomination—”broke the faith” of U.S. elections.
“He lost the 2020 election and knew it. But he chose to try to stay in office through a multipart scheme to overturn the results and block the transfer of power,” Thomspon said. “We’ve never had a president of the United States stir up a violent attempt to block the transfer of power.”
“Evidence we’ve gathered warrants further action beyond the power of this committee or the Congress to help ensure accountability on the law,” he said. “We have every confidence that the work of this committee will help provide a roadmap to justice, and that the agencies and institutions responsible for ensuring justice under the law will use the information we provide to aid in their work.”
The DOJ bears no requirement to act on the panel’s referrals, which carry no legal weight. However, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a committee member and a lead manager of Trump’s second impeachment, stressed that “the Justice Department must apply the same standard of law to Donald Trump as they would to any citizen.”
“That’s what Attorney General Garland promised to do,” Schiff added. “And the country will hold the department to it.”
The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington tweeted, “No one is above the law. That’s why the criminal referral the January 6 Committee may make today is so important.”
“Trump needs to face indictment for the crimes he committed trying to overturn a free and fair election and the insurrection he incited, trying to cling to power,” the group added.
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
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