The House Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot voted on Monday to refer former President Donald Trump to the Department of Justice on criminal charges.
The committee unanimously said Trump committed crimes in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
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 believes that more than sufficient evidence exists for a criminal referral of former President Trump for assisting or aiding and comforting those at the Capitol who engaged in a violent attack on the United States,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said.
“The committee has developed significant evidence that President Trump intended to disrupt the peaceful transition of power under our Constitution. The president has an affirmative and primary constitutional duty to act to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Nothing could be a greater betrayal of this duty than to assist in insurrection against the constitutional order,” Raskin added.
It is the first time that Congress has recommended charges against a former president.
The committee also referred four Republican House representatives to the chamber’s ethics committee, including Kevin McCarthy, the GOP leader who is expected to run for speaker of the House when the party takes control of the chamber next year.
