The commission of inquiry into the storming of the US Capitol published its final report shortly before Christmas. An 800-page document also accused Trump of spreading conspiracy theories to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The commission released the report Thursday (local time) and concluded: “The central cause of January 6 was one man, former President Donald Trump.”
At its final public hearing on Monday, the panel recommended prosecuting Trump on four counts. “The work of the Commission of Inquiry underscores that our democratic institutions are only as strong as the commitment of those charged with overseeing them,” US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a foreword to the report.
The results should be a call to all Americans to “keep our democracy vigilant and give our vote only to those who dutifully defend our Constitution.”
Department recommends criminal prosecution of Trump
On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the seat of the US Congress, where the Republican’s election defeat to Joe Biden was to be ratified. A mob incited by Trump violently entered the building, killing five people. The commission had been investigating the incident for the past 18 months. The panel staged the public hearings as a TV spectacle that many people watched.
At its latest public hearing on Monday, the investigative committee unanimously recommended that the Justice Department take criminal action against Trump and others involved. It is unclear if or when this will happen, as the decision is not legally binding. Nevertheless, the move sends a clear signal and makes prosecution of Trump, who wants to run again as a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election, more likely. And: Should there be a lawsuit, Trump will face a maximum sentence of 40 years, writes ‘Focus’.
The accusations against the ex-president weigh heavily: the panel accuses him, among other things, of inciting riots. Trump and others involved, such as his former legal adviser John Eastman, are also accused of obstructing a public hearing, conspiring against the US government and making false claims to the state.
Witness from serious allegations against Trump environment
Her statements caused a sensation: former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson has accused those close to former US President Donald Trump of pressuring her before testifying before the commission of inquiry into the attack on the Capitol. Hutchinson said publicly in the summer, among other things, that Trump was aware of possible violence on January 6, 2021 in advance. She also described the events of that day in the White House. Trump denied the allegations and publicly insulted Hutchinson.
According to now-published transcripts, Hutchinson told the committee in September that Trump’s entourage offered her jobs and financial support — including for high legal fees. At the same time, she was urged to downplay her role in the White House and remain loyal. “The less you remember, the better,” a Trump confidante reportedly told her. Hutchinson worked for then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. “You’re going to ruin my life, mom, if I do something you don’t want,” Hutchinson said, according to the transcript, according to her mother.
Trump called on people to use violence
Trump himself has always defended himself against the allegations and repeatedly railed against the work of the committee. He dismissed all allegations as politically motivated. After Monday’s hearing, the ex-president again attacked the committee and repeated his lie about voter fraud. “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” he wrote on Truth Social, a platform he co-founded.
The Justice Department must now determine whether it has sufficient evidence to take further action against the Republican: Trump could eventually be indicted. The rare crime of rioting is the most serious: it is committed under U.S. law when it incites or participates in rebellion against state authority or law.
If Trump is convicted of sedition, he will no longer be allowed to hold political office. (jwg/SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
