It is the first time in United States history that Congress has referred a former president to prosecution, the New York Times (“NYT”) wrote. In the past almost 18 months, the committee had investigated how Trump supporters stormed the seat of the US Congress on January 6, 2021, in which the Republican’s election defeat once morest Joe Biden was to be authenticated.
“Never before has a president of the United States made a violent attempt to block the transfer of power,” said committee chairman Bennie Thompson on Monday at the beginning of the committee’s meeting in the US capital Washington. Trump knew he had lost the 2020 presidential election.
“In the end he called a mob to Washington,” Democrat Thompson said. Responsibility would have to be assumed for this, which might only exist in the criminal justice system. Conservative Republican Rep. Liz Cheney said Trump, who has already entered the 2024 presidential race, is “unfit” to ever hold public office once more.
Recommendation may result in prosecution
The Justice Department now decides whether to prosecute the Republican. It is unclear when this decision will come. While a panel recommendation has no legal binding on the Justice Department, it might influence the decision-making process and ultimately lead to an indictment. In addition, the committee staged the public hearings as a TV spectacle – which should have left a lasting impression on many people.
In this context, the full final report on the work of the Capitol Committee, which is expected to be several hundred pages long and is expected for Wednesday, is eagerly awaited.
This will probably “stick closely to the topics of the individual hearings of the committee”, as predicted by the US broadcaster ABC on Monday. The report will paint a “comprehensive picture” of events surrounding the Capitol attack, according to Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. The consequences of the committee for Trump remain open – nevertheless, the “NYT” predicted “a week full of headaches” for the ex-president.
Criminal proceedings recommended once morest Trump
The investigative committee into the storming of the US Capitol has called on the judiciary to criminal proceedings once morest ex-President Donald Trump on four counts. At a public hearing, lawmakers accused Trump of, among other things, instigating or aiding insurrection, obstructing an official process and conspiring to defraud the United States. The Ministry of Justice must now decide on criminal proceedings and possible charges.
riot offense the most serious
The Justice Department must now see if it has enough evidence to file criminal charges once morest the Republican. The rare offense of rioting is the most serious. It is fulfilled under US law when there is incitement or personal participation in insurrection once morest the authority of the state or the law. This is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both. So if Trump is convicted of sedition, he would no longer be allowed to hold political office.
In the course of the investigation, the 76-year-old Trump was heavily incriminated by witnesses. These included former Attorney General William Barr and White House employees. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House employee, was considered a particularly spectacular surprise witness. In the summer, she accused Trump of knowing in advance regarding possible violence on January 6, 2021.
Investigations already ongoing
The US judiciary is already investigating Trump, with Attorney General Merrick Garland only appointing prosecutor Jack Smith as a special counsel in mid-November. On the one hand, the investigation is regarding the storming of the Capitol or, in principle, a possible hindrance to the change of power following Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Another line of investigation revolves around secret documents that Trump transferred from the White House to his private estate at the beginning of 2021 at the end of his term in office Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
“Come hell”
Radical Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to prevent a final confirmation of Biden’s election victory. The storming of Congress with five dead shook the United States and caused international horror. At that time, the House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings once morest Trump, which failed in the Senate.
In July 2021, a parliamentary committee of inquiry began its work to uncover the background to the storming of the Capitol. The panel, whose work officially expires at the end of the year, was formed following an attempt to set up an independent commission was ultimately blocked by Republicans.
Committee members — seven Democrats and two Republicans — have made it clear time and once more that they believe Trump is primarily responsible for the violence. After the 2020 election, the right-wing populist refused to admit defeat and spread allegations of voter fraud that had been refuted many times. On January 6, 2021, he called on his supporters gathered in Washington to march to the Capitol and fight “whatever the hell”.
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