Headline RoundupDecember 19th, 2022

Jan. 6 Committee Recommends Criminal Charges Against Trump

Summary from the AllSides News Team

The House of Representatives' select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot voted unanimously Monday to refer former President Donald Trump to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on at least four criminal charges.

The Details: The recommended charges include conspiracy to make a false statement, attempting to "incite," "assist" or "aid or comfort" an insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. The hearing was the committee's tenth and final, and followed an 18-month congressional probe that featured over 100 subpoenas and interviews with more than 1,200 witnesses.

Key Quotes: "This committee is nearing the end of its work. But as a country, we remain in strange and uncharted waters," said committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss). "We’ve never had a President of the United States stir up a violent attempt to block the transfer of power. If we are to survive as a nation of laws and democracy, this can never happen again."

What's Next: Trump is the first president ever to be referred by Congress for potential criminal prosecution, but it's unclear whether he'll be charged with the recommended crimes. A DOJ special counsel is already probing Trump over Jan. 6 and other 2020 election-related matters.

How the Media Covered It: The referral was the top story from sources across the spectrum Monday afternoon. Left- and center-rated outlets tended to focus more on the unprecedented nature of the recommendations, and on other controversies involving Trump's presidency.

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