On Monday, the select committee convened on January 6 and voted to request that the Justice Department investigate several potential criminal charges against former President Donald Trump in connection with the riot in the Capitol.
After an 18-month investigation, the committee decided to submit many allegations against Trump, including obstruction of an official process, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement, and inciting, helping, aiding/comforting an uprising. On Monday, the committee that will be abolished once Republicans take control of the House next year had a meeting in which its last report was approved for public distribution.
“You assigned many of us to gather evidence of criminal and civil wrongdoing and make referrals to the Department of Justice and other authorities a few months ago. These suggestions are ready for release today, “Rep. Jamie Raskin, who on Monday introduced the resolution to accept the final report, which contains the referrals, said the following. The final tally was 9-0 in favor of the panel.
A referral is a formal request to the Department of Justice to determine whether the individuals in issue should be charged. Still, it is primarily symbolic, as federal investigators are not obligated to pursue the case. According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, whether or not the Justice Department files charges depends on whether or not the facts and evidence warrant a prosecution. Whatever costs are ultimately decided upon will be determined by Garland.
Several of Trump’s allies, including his attorney John Eastman, were referred to the criminal justice system on charges like obstruction of justice and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Eastman said that former VP Mike Pence should nullify the election results.
Separately, the committee referred four Republicans to the Ethics Committee for failing to comply with subpoenas issued by the committee: House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH), Scott Perry (R-PA), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
On Monday, an executive summary of the final report was released, providing further context for the pending criminal referrals.
The study states that others involved with Eastman “certainly share in Eastman’s responsibility,” including Kenneth Chesebro, the attorney who submitted the original memo to Trump about the idea of submitting false electors to Congress and the National Archives.
Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s attorney, and Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department official who was briefly considered as Trump’s acting attorney general, are two other possible candidates for criminal referrals. Clark refused to answer the committee’s questions and constantly claimed the Fifth Amendment’s protection.
Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said he was confident the Justice Department would charge the former president in a CNN interview after the public meeting.
‘If the evidence is as we presented it, I’m certain the Justice Department will charge former President Trump,’ he added.