The House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 storming of the United States Capitol is preparing to vote to request the Justice Department to file at least three criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, including charges of rioting, reported the Político newspaper.
La Jornada stresses that the report, which the select panel is expected to consider on Monday afternoon, would reflect some recommendations from a subcommittee that assessed possible criminal leads. Among the charges the subcommittee is proposing for Trump are insurgency, obstruction of official procedures and conspiracy to defraud the United States government.
While it’s unclear whether the final document will add further charges against the magnate, it goes into detail as to why the former president should be tried for all three crimes.
To justify insurgency incitement, the report points to the Senate’s 57 votes in an impeachment trial in 2021, Trump’s second, to convict him on a House-approved insurgency charge, Politico reported.
The committee report also notes that in order for Trump to violate the riot law, Trump did not need an explicit agreement with the rioters, but simply had to provide them with “aid or comfort.”
The Justice Department, which is already prosecuting Trump’s actions related to the storming of the Capitol, is not required to heed Congress’ leads because they carry no legal weight.
However, the committee plans to act in the hope that input from congressmen can influence the Justice Department’s decision-making process.
