Schiff declines to say which criminal referrals the Jan. 6 committee might make

Dec 18, 2022

Rep. Adam Schiff said Sunday he believes there is enough evidence to charge former President Donald Trump with crimes in relation to the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, though he declined to say what criminal referrals the Jan. 6 committee might make Monday.

Speaking to host Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the California Democrat said: “I think that the evidence is there that Donald Trump committed criminal offenses in connection with his efforts to overturn the election. Viewing it as a former prosecutor, I think there’s sufficient evidence to charge the president.”

The Jan. 6 House select committee, of which Schiff is a member, is to hold a final public meeting Monday. The nine-member committee, led by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), has been investigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and what led up to them.

But Schiff declined to say what specific criminal referrals the committee might make to the Justice Department, or how many.

“I can tell you that, you know, our process has been to look meticulously at the evidence and compare it to various statutes,” he said.

He added: “We are not referring, or at least won’t be voting to refer, every one we think there may be evidence [of] because we want to focus on those for which we believe there’s the strongest evidence.”

But, speaking for himself, Schiff made it clear where he stood.

“This is someone who, in multiple ways, tried to pressure state officials to find votes that didn’t exist,” Schiff said of Trump.

“This is someone who tried to interfere with a joint session, even inciting a mob to attack the Capitol. If that’s not criminal, then I don’t know what is.”

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