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.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
January 6 Committee Recommends Trump Face Criminal ChargesThe January 6 committee on Monday referred former president Donald Trump to the Department of Justice for prosecution on four charges related to his conduct leading up to and during the riot that occurred in the Capitol in the wake of his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
The referrals include obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., making a false statement, and inciting an insurrection, the last of which could disqualify Trump from holding public office in the future. Trump recently announced his third presidential bid.
On January 6, a...
From the Left
Jan. 6 panel refers Trump on criminal chargesThe Jan. 6 panel voted Monday to refer former President Trump to the Department of Justice on at least four criminal charges, including insurrection and obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress.
Why it matters: In an unprecedented move, the congressional committee voted unanimously that the former president committed crimes for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Driving the news: The panel referred Trump on charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to make a false statement and "incite," "assist" or "aid or comfort" an insurrection.
"The committee has...
From the Left
Jan. 6 committee approves criminal referrals against Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 electionThe House Jan. 6 committee voted Monday to recommend the Justice Department pursue a batch of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in an effort to overturn the 2020 election and the fomenting of a deadly mob at the Capitol.
The select committee also took aim at Trump’s top allies — on and off Capitol Hill — who worked with the 45th president to block certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory and illegitimately keep Trump in power.
“We understand the gravity of each and every referral we...
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