January 6th Committee Votes To REcommend Prosecution of President Trump

The January 6th Committee released their final report on the events of the Capitol riot that took place on January 6th, 2021. The report is 845 pages long and is based on over 1,000 witness testimonies and over 1 million documents. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against former President Trump on four counts: obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make false statements, and inciting, assisting or giving aid and comfort to an insurrection. If convicted on the last charge, Trump would be barred from holding federal office under the 14th amendment.

Representative Liz Cheney, co-chair of the committee, stated that Trump's actions during the riot were an "utter moral failure" and a "clear dereliction of duty." Representative Lurie added that Trump "lit the flame" and "poured gasoline on the fire" during the riot, and has continued to fan the flames since then. Congressmen Jamie Raskin, a constitutional law professor, concluded his remarks by stating that "ours is not a system of justice where foot soldiers go to jail and the masterminds and ring leaders get a free pass."

The January 6th Committee has been working with the Justice Department, specifically Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is now in charge of the January 6th investigation and prosecution, which is the largest case in the history of the Justice Department. He will now have to decide whether to prosecute Trump as well as others singled out by the Committee.