Donald Trump should face criminal charges over Capitol riots, January 6 committee recommends

The committee investigating the January 6 storming of the US Capitol is recommending criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.

They include conspiracy to defraud the United States; obstructing an official proceeding (the certification of Joe Biden‘s election victory); conspiracy to make a false statement and inciting or assisting an insurrection.

The recommendation is mainly symbolic – with the US Justice Department responsible for deciding whether or not to prosecute Mr Trump.

But committee chair, Bernie Thompson, said: “We have every confidence that the work of this committee will help provide the road map to justice.”

A number of recommendations are made in the final report, which accuses Mr Trump engaging in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the election.

Mr Thompson said “accountability” is the most important focus.

“We will also show that evidence we’ve gathered points to further action beyond the power of this committee or the congress to help ensure accountability in the law,” he said.

Vote by January 6th committee could dictate whether Donald Trump spends time on the campaign trail or in the courthouse

House committee investigating Capitol riots to vote on recommending criminal charges against Donald Trump – reports

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“Accountability that can only be found in the criminal justice system.”

Mr Thompson also criticised Donald Trump for “breaking” faith in the democratic system, telling the committee: “If we are to survive as a nation of laws and democracy, this can never happen again.”

Speaking of Mr Trump‘s behaviour on the day of the riots, vice chair Liz Cheney said: “In addition to being unlawful… this was an utter moral failure and a clear dereliction of duty.

“Evidence of this can be seen in the testimony of President Trump’s own White House counsel and several other White House witnesses.

“No man who would behave that way, at that moment in time, can ever serve in any position of authority in our nation again. He is unfit for any office.”

Ms Cheney said the committee’s work is only at the beginning, describing it as an “initial step” in addressing Mr Trump’s “efforts to remain in office illegally”.

Prosecutors are now considering the implications of the conduct described in the committee’s report, Ms Cheney added.

Trump has already launched a campaign to seek the Republican nomination for a second run in the White House in 2024.

He announced his leadership bid despite facing a number of investigations into the riot, which claimed the lives of five people including a police officer.

More than 140 police officers were injured during the disorder, which caused millions of dollars to the Capitol.

Trump’s daughter ‘not forthcoming’

Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, a White House advisor during her father’s tenure, apparently knew more than she was prepared to divulge, the committee believes.

The executive summary of the report said Ms Trump was “not as forthcoming” as other aides, including then-White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, about the former President’s conduct.

The committee accused her of showing a “lack of full recollection of certain issues”.

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