DELMARVA – The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots has released its final report and recommendations. All eyes are on the Justice Department to see if former President Donald Trump will be indicted.
Commission recommendations
After 18 months of intensive research, the committee made several recommendations.
- The committee cited the 14th Amendment and recommended that former President Trump be barred from ever holding any federal or state office. The group also recommended creating a “formal mechanism” to find out if others involved in the riot face the same ban.
- Congress should impose stronger criminal penalties for those who interfere with the peaceful transfer of power, the committee said.
- The Commission recommends federal penalties for those who threaten election officials.
- According to the committee, new legislation should be created to enforce House subpoenas in federal courts.
- The Commission recommends increased oversight of Capitol Police, including improved training, equipment, intelligence gathering, and response protocols.
Over 800 pages long, the final report contains thousands of pages of evidence from witness transcripts and over a million pages of source material. In its evidence, the committee made some important findings.
- Former President Trump intended to declare victory regardless of the outcome.
- The former president was aware of the potential for violence when he called on his supporters to march on the Capitol. Among his group of supporters were members of the Proud Boys and the Oathkeepers, identified as extremist groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
- Former President Trump knew about the rioting in the Capitol more than three hours before he intervened.
- The former president’s chief of staff knew that the election fraud investigation would not change the outcome of the 2020 election. The commission says former President Trump and his allies lied about election fraud and asked supporters for money to fight lawsuits over the election results.
Criminal Introduction
The four criminal charges filed by the Commission included obstruction of official process, conspiracy to defraud the government, knowingly making materially false statements to the federal government, and inciting or aiding insurrection. increase.
Dr. Samuel Hoff, a professor of political science and constitutional expert at Delaware State University, says it’s a unique situation never seen before in American history.
“We have never seen this type of action taken against a former president. We know seven past presidents have been sued by members of Congress while they were in office.” said Dr. Hoff. “These are criminal charges, which means the president will be sued in civil cases, most of which will be removed from the courts.”
Imminent Claims?
The big question now: Will the Department of Justice file charges?
“It’s one thing to charge someone. Proving it in court is another. “You might say that it could provoke a political backlash and result in greater violence. If they don’t, they’re making someone irresponsible.”
If former President Trump is indicted and eventually convicted, Dr. Hoff says he could be barred from holding public office again.
“Another tool that could be used following criminal convictions might be 14th Amendment language that excludes persons holding public office if they commit treason or riot,” Dr. Hoff said. .
set a precedent
Whatever the outcome, Dr. Hoff says the commission’s findings and recommendations are likely to set a precedent, not just in politics, but throughout American history.
“If former President Trump were indicted and convicted, the lessons would be powerful. Now we’re saying, ‘This will never happen again,'” Dr. Hoff said.
Former President Trump called the commission’s report “extremely partisan.” He also accused the commission of being involved in a “witch hunt”. The former president also falsely claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser refused to deploy the National Guard on Jan. 6 at his request. Former President Trump announced his re-election bid last month.
