A criminal referral of Donald Trump may seem like a pipedream, but it has “hung like a shadow,” to quote CNN, over the January 6 Committee ever since it was formed, and “many members have felt it is a necessary measure in order to complete its work.”
The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol has decided to make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice, the panel’s chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, told reporters Tuesday.
Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said the committee has not narrowed down the universe of individuals who may be referred.
Asked whether Thompson believed any witnesses perjured themselves, he said, “that’s part of the discussion.” […]
The decision of whether to issue criminal referrals has loomed large over the committee. Members on the panel have been in wide agreement that former President Donald Trump and some of his closest allies have committed a crime when he pushed a conspiracy to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, as they’ve laid out in their hearings. But they have long been split over what to do about it, including whether to make a criminal referral of Trump to the Justice Department.
In the past, the question has led to a vigorous, at times contentious, debate among committee members, sources have said. Those who previously said criminal referrals are not necessary to close out the panel’s investigation say the committee lacks prosecutorial powers, and that the Justice Department does not need Congress to investigate crimes as it has its own criminal investigations into the Capitol attack that are ongoing.
The final report is scheduled for the week of December 12.
Two reasons why the committee’s results are important to the justice department; they could contain some details that DOJ does not have and they could also corroborate what they already have.
Trump, Meadows, McCarthy (yeah right) and all that voted against confirming the vote – would be nice.
A few years ago I bought a t-shirt with “ITMFA” on the front.
It stood for “Impeach The Mother-F***er Already”
I’m wearing it again and telling people the “I” stands for Indict.
Just live up to Equal Justice Under the Law. Ask yourself: what would happen to an average person with no money, power, or influence, if they committed the same acts? For years. Caught red handed with top secret documents, nevermind the other conspiracy to overthrow democracy or the numerous financial frauds or sexual assaults. Does anyone seriously believe we wouldn’t be in prison? Seriously?
You’re not saying something that shouldn’t be done Scott, it just isn’t going to be done. Laws are for people like us, not for people with money, power or influence–particularly the famous ones.
Iwould love to see every one who asked for a pardon, and all who persisted in running their mouths, like Cruz, Hawley, et al, and Greene, Boebert, etc, and maybe censures for all who signed onto the resolution to overturn the election, whether or not they participated in other ways. They all deserve to be at least kicked out of government.