Washington The investigative committee into the storming of the US Capitol recommends that the Department of Justice criminal investigations against ex-President Donald Trump and confidants. The House of Representatives voted unanimously for this when it met for its last public session on Monday. It is the first time in American history that the US Congress has resorted to this means.
The most serious crime the committee charges Trump with is incitement to insurrection. The US judiciary understands this as supporting “any rebellion against the authority of the United States or the laws”. Trump had called on his supporters on Twitter and during a rally on January 6, 2021 to defend themselves against the recognition of the presidential election result on Capitol Hill.
Ultimately, hundreds of people forcibly entered the seat of the US Congress. A total of five people died and more than a hundred police officers were injured. US MPs entrenched themselves, and the property damage was considerable.
Republican Trump claims to this day that the US elections were rigged and that Joe Biden is illegally in the White House. Dozens of investigations and court decisions have refuted this accusation. Nevertheless, a whole movement in the USA is gathering behind the conspiracy theory. In November, Trump declared that he wanted to run again for the Republicans as a candidate for the White House.
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How things will continue now – and what Trump threatens
The recommendation initially has no formal effects. Because the decision in Congress is not binding. It is entirely up to the US Department of Justice whether to pursue federal indictments against Trump, potentially barring him from the presidency forever. Incitement to rebellion is punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. If Trump is convicted of sedition, he would no longer be allowed to hold political office.
When the decision of the Ministry of Justice comes, is open. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said prior to the decision that his agency would review whether the evidence from Congress warranted prosecution. At the same time, the ministry has launched its own investigation into January 6 and Trump’s storage of classified documents at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
The attack from the heart of American democracy had caused horror around the world.
(Photo: Reuters)
These investigations are led by special counsel Jack Smith, who recently solved war crimes at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The FBI is also prosecuting hundreds of Trump supporters involved in the Capitol storm.
The work of the Committee is nevertheless considered important. If only because he meticulously documents the events surrounding January 6th. The committee intends to publish its final report in full on Wednesday.
The panel also accuses Trump of sedition, obstruction of a public trial and conspiracy against the US government. The committee has been investigating how the storming of the seat of the US Congress came about over the past 18 months. Congress was about to certify the Republican’s defeat by Joe Biden when the crowd violently entered.
“He must never hold office again”
Testimonies, audio or video recordings and documents suggest that Trump was well aware of his defeat. Still, he tried to have the result declared invalid and pressured state governors to go along with him.
The U-Committee said the President had systematically tried to undermine ratification by Congress. When those efforts failed, Trump called on his supporters to storm the Capitol — and then watched as the violence unfolded. In doing so, the committee said, Trump violated his constitutional duty to protect Congress and the rule of law.
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A Capitol police officer testified under oath that she “slipped in the blood of the victims” as the mob entered the Capitol and partially set the building on fire.
Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who chairs the committee, strongly criticized Trump. “He sat in the White House dinner room and watched on television as the appalling violence raged. He didn’t want to intervene for hours, even when dozens of employees begged him. This is not only criminal, but a clear moral failure. No man who has behaved in this manner shall ever again hold political office.” Seven Democrats and two Republicans sit on the committee.
The security forces were almost overwhelmed by the crowd initially protesting against the official election results. The attack dragged on for hours.
(Photo: Reuters)
In the course of the investigation, the 76-year-old Trump was heavily incriminated by witnesses. These included former Attorney General William Barr and White House employees. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House employee, was considered a spectacular surprise witness. In the summer, she accused Trump of having been aware of possible violence on January 6, 2021.
Trump’s support among Republicans has recently dropped
The ex-president is involved in various legal disputes. Almost ten different investigations are running parallel against Trump, against his family or his real estate group The Trump Organization. Among other things, it is about suspected tax fraud or the betrayal of state secrets. The state of Georgia is investigating attempts by Trump to pressure politicians in connection with the election results.
The Republican party headquarters had long paid for part of the legal and legal costs because they relate to Trump’s time as president. It’s over since the latter officially declared that he wanted to run for the presidency again.
Trump’s support in the Republican Party has recently fallen, although polls still show him to be the most popular politician at grassroots level. An influence is measurably declining: The candidates he supported performed mostly poorly in the midterm elections in November and lost their races.
The first major donors and high-ranking politicians turn away. For example, Senator John Thune, who represents the state of South Dakota, called Trump “an albatross” hanging around the party’s neck. And Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said an official nomination from Trump would be the “worst-case scenario” for Republicans.
With agency material.
More: “America’s comeback is starting right now” – Trump announces renewed candidacy for president.