Jan. 6 panel refers Trump, allies to DOJ for criminal prosecution – By Steve Benen (MSNBC) / Dec 19, 2022
Following months of debate, the Jan. 6 committee has made four criminal referrals to the Justice Department related to Donald Trump and his team.
For months, members of the Jan. 6 committee debated whether to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department as part of the larger congressional investigation. As the bipartisan select panel concludes its work, that debate has come to an end.
At the outset of today’s “business meeting” — this, technically, was not a hearing — Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s Democratic chairman, told the public, “[B]eyond our findings, we will also show that evidence we’ve gathered points to further action — beyond the power of this committee or the Congress — to help ensure accountability under the law. Accountability that can only be found in the criminal justice system.”
As the meeting concluded, the panel acted on that very point. My MSNBC colleague Jordan Rubin reported:
“The House Jan. 6 committee has decided to recommend the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, including obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiring to make false statements, and insurrection.”
CONTINUE > https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-criminal-referrals-jan-6-doj-rcna62361
