This IS historic in charging a ex-President and others in trying to overthrowing the US Government….
The January 6 Committee unanimously referred four criminal charges to the Department of Justice against former President Donald Trump:
- Obstruction of an official proceeding.
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States.
- Conspiracy to make a false statement.
- Assisting, aiding or comforting an insurrection.
Referrals are also made against John Eastman for the first two charges.
Referrals are also made against four Republican congressman for sanctions by the House Ethics Committee.
…
The panel is expected to urge the Justice Department to pursue at least three criminal charges against the former president: insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States government. The referrals to the department are included in an internal report that the full committee is expected to approve on Monday.
The referral recommendation for insurrection mentions U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling in February saying that Trump’s language plausibly incited violence on Jan. 6, as well as the Senate’s 57 votes in last year’s impeachment trial to convict Trump on “incitement of insurrection.”
Charging decisions rest entirely with Justice Department prosecutors, not Congress, but panel members have increasingly stressed the impact their transmission to the department could have on public opinion and see it as part of building a historical record around the attack. Special counsel Jack Smith is currently conducting a wide-ranging investigation of Trump’s scheme to cling to power, and the select panel has also moved in parallel with the Justice Department’s effort to prosecute hundreds of Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol….
Note….
With the Republicans taking over the House as of Jan. 1….The Committee is done….
image…Haiyjun Chang/NY Times