Should former President Trump face charges for Jan. 6?
Image: Jon Cherry/Getty
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. It’s also two weeks after the former House committee investigating the incident published its final report on the situation, following a year-and-a-half of investigation, 10 public hearings, and interviews with 1,000+ witnesses.
📑 What did the report say?... The committee, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, began by stating then-President Trump was informed “time and time again” by his advisors and other US officials that the 2020 election wasn’t stolen from him, but he chose to keep claiming otherwise.
Other chapters included material on:
- Trump’s efforts to pressure state election officials to overturn local results.
- His attempt to persuade senior DOJ officials to aid his campaign to reverse the election.
- Trump’s failure to take action for 3+ hours following his speech on Jan. 6 while rioters rushed the Capitol.
The 845-page report concluded by asserting that Trump was personally responsible for the attack on the Capitol. Which didn’t exactly come as a surprise, given the committee had unanimously voted three days earlier to refer Trump to the DOJ for four potential criminal charges – including insurrection – in its final public hearing before disbanding.
✋ Yes, but: Congress doesn’t have the power to bring charges or initiate a criminal investigation, but it can call for the Justice Department to launch a probe. These requests, or criminal referrals, don’t hold any legal weight or influence over the DOJ’s decisions.
- At the moment, the Justice Department is running a separate investigation into the events of Jan. 6. This probe is led by an independent special counsel, and will make its own determination of what – if any – charges to bring against former President Trump.
📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, should former President Trump be criminally charged for Jan. 6?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the Jan. 6 committee was justified to recommend Trump for criminal charges based on the facts they laid out over months of public hearings – many of which came from Trump’s own employees.
- Others contend that Trump and his associates need to face justice in order to prevent a similar insurrection aimed at the US government from ever occurring again.
- “The Jan. 6 committee accused Trump of inciting an insurrection. He should be charged for it.” –LA Times Editorial Board
- “Jan. 6 committee report is clear: Trump must be held accountable” –Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Board
- “Jan. 6 hearings show Trump should face charges” –Santa Cruz Sentinel Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the Jan. 6 committee’s decision to refer Trump for criminal charges is ultimately a political gesture that only serves to inflame conflict between both political parties, and doesn’t actually accomplish anything of value.
- Others contend that the entire Jan. 6 committee was pointless, since the DOJ is already conducting its own separate investigation into the events of that day (and they, unlike Congress, can actually bring charges).
- “The Jan. 6 Inquiry’s Not-So-Grand Finale” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Trump overkill” –Byron York, Washington Examiner
- “The January 6 Committee’s Empty Political Gesture” –National Review Editorial Board
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