Capitol riot inquiry split over criminal charges for Trump
The former US president could face charges of obstructing a congressional proceeding and conspiring to defraud the American people.
A rift has opened up in the committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol over whether to refer the former president Donald Trump for criminal charges.
Bennie Thompson, the chairman, said it was not up to the committee to tell the Department of Justice what to make of its findings, leading Republican and Democrat members to say outlining potential charges was still on the table.
After the row erupted the committee abruptly postponed its third hearing, due today. It plans to resume on Thursday.
Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat on the committee, said the delay was because it had fallen behind on “technical work”. “Putting together the video exhibits is an exhausting exercise for our very small video staff,” she told MSNBC.
The decision on whether to prosecute Trump, 76, lies with Merrick Garland, the Attorney-General. Committee members are understood privately to have discussed referring Trump for charges of obstructing a congressional proceeding and conspiring to defraud the American people.
Liz Cheney, the senior Republican member, hinted at the more serious charge of sedition when she said during the opening hearing that they would expose “plots to commit seditious conspiracy”.
Mr Thompson, 74, a congressman from Mississippi, spoke out after the second public hearing on Monday at which numerous senior officials said they had made it clear to Trump that he lost the 2020 election but he persisted with claims of fraud anyway, triggering the insurrection by a mob of his supporters in Washington and raising millions of dollars in donations.
“We’re going to tell the facts. If the Department of Justice looks at it, and assumes that there’s something that needs further review, I’m sure they’ll do it,” Mr Thompson said as he left the House, NBC News reported.
Pressed on whether the committee had ruled out the possibility of referring criminal charges, Mr Thompson replied: “We don’t have authority.”
Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat, tweeted: “Our committee has yet to vote on whether we will recommend criminal referrals to the Department of Justice. If criminal activity occurred, it is our responsibility to report that activity to the DoJ.”
Committee research revealed that Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancee of Trump’s eldest son Don Jr, was paid $US60,000 ($87,000) for a two-and-a-half-minute-speech at the Stop the Steal rally shortly before the Capitol attack.
Ms Guilfoyle, 53, was paid from $US250m raised from Trump supporters for an “official election defence fund” that does not appear to exist.
The Times
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