What’s in the Jan. 6 Committee’s criminal referrals against Trump?
On Monday, the House January 6 Committee voted to send referrals to the U.S. Justice Department recommending former President Donald Trump be criminally prosecuted.
The committee—made up of seven Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans—announced their referrals to the public during its final meeting.
The move comes ahead of Republicans taking over the House next year.
Following an 18-month-long investigation, each member presented some of their findings against former President Trump before taking the vote to issue criminal referrals.
Those referrals include obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, conspiracy to defraud the federal government, making a false statement, and inciting, assisting, or aiding and comforting an insurrection.
Former President Trump, who launched his 2024 White House bid last month, was also subpoenaed by the committee but defied the panel’s requests for information.
Additionally, the committee never showed the video Trump posted to social media calling for an end to the riots, “you’ve seen what happens, you see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil— I know how you feel. But, go home and go home in peace,” Trump said.
The committee’s unprecedented criminal referral does not hold any official legal weight.
A final determination regarding the pursuit of charges will be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Justice Department.
