Jan. 6 Committee recommends criminal charges against Donald Trump
Brandon Bell/Getty Donald Trump
The U.S. House committee investigating the riots of Jan. 6, 2021, officially recommends that the Department of Justice bring four criminal charges against former President Donald TrumpThis includes conspiracy to defraud government and inciting insurrection.
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin stated that Trump wanted to “ride in like Mussolini, on the shoulders of mob,” and that the committee had voted for Trump to be referred to the Department of Justice. He was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy defrauding the government, inciting insurrection, and making a false statement.
Raskin stated that Trump attorney John Eastman would be referred by the committee as well as “others” accused of obstruction and conspiracy to defraud government.
Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock John Eastman
Eastman, a Chapman University professor, described himself as Trump’s attorney and was helping him prove that the 2020 election had been “stolen.”
But, according to filings made public by the committee earlier, Eastman was more than an adviser: “He spoke at the rally on the morning of January 6, spreading proven falsehoods to the tens of thousands of people attending that rally, and appears to have a broader role in many of the specific issues the Select Committee is investigating.”
Eastman responded to the questions of the committee by invoking his Fifth Amendment right to self-incrimination. The filing states that he attempted to “conceal many relevant documents behind claims for attorney-client privilege or work-product protection.”
As the criminal referrals themselves carry no official legal weight, they are largely symbolic — and come just weeks before Republicans gain control of the House, effectively putting an end to the committee’s work altogether. It is now up to the Justice Department whether or not Eastman or the former president will be charged.
RELATED: 187 Minutes: Jan. 6 Witnesses Describe What Trump Did — and Didn’t Do — While Riot Raged at Capitol
Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Capitol Riot Jan. 6, 2021
The Justice Department has already begun to investigate the events of Jan. 6, and has been listening to testimony for several months. criminal probe These were the riots.
Testimonies from former Vice Presidents Mike Pence According to recent reports, this is a sign that the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Jan. 6, is intensifying. The New York Times.
The hearings of the committee, which were broadcast publicly in June, began airing on YouTube. have featured new revelations The events leading to the attacks and the response of Trump and his allies.
The list of most notable allegations Trump tried to get his Secret Service agents to drive Trump to the Capitol Building as his supporters were coming down on the building.
Wednesday’s House committee report will be made public. It will give the DOJ additional evidence that they can use to support their investigation into possible charges.
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Trump has embraced the extremism of those who took part in the Capitol riots. One Capitol police officer died after being beaten and killed by the rioters. Other officers were also attacked, with some suffering life-threatening injuries.
Trump, who resigned in 2021, has shown solidarity with the rioters who broke into the Capitol on that day. He also filmed a video. as recently as this month He stated that they had been treated “very very unfairly”.
The criminal referrals announcement comes amid many other investigations into Trump, One of the following: handling of classified documents After leaving the office.