Before Republicans assume control of the House of Representatives in January, Democrats are rushing to consider a criminal referral against former President Donald Trump.
Prior to this month’s midterm elections, Republicans made it clear that if they gained control of the House, they would disband the select committee investigating Trump in relation to the January 6, 2021 Capitol intrusion.
In June, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is certain to become the next House speaker, referred to the group of seven Democrats and two vehemently anti-Trump Republicans as “the most political and least legitimate committee in American history.”
"Speaker Pelosi's Select Committee on January 6th is unlike any other Committee in American history. In fact, it is the most political and least legitimate Committee in American history." – @GOPLeader on Pelosi's political witch-hunt. pic.twitter.com/7H7foovC9y
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) June 9, 2022
With the GOP regaining control of the House in the midterm elections and Trump’s Tuesday announcement that he will run for president again in 2024, one member of the committee suggested that action may be next.
Rep. Adam Schiff of California stated on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday morning that the panel is moving toward a criminal referral against Trump.
Jonathan Karl brought up the Friday declaration by the Biden administration that it will appoint a special counsel to probe the former president. Jack Smith will investigate “whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election or the certification of the Electoral College vote held on or about January 6, 2021,” according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“What does it mean about the Jan. 6 committee’s deliberations about a criminal referral?” Karl asked. “Will you be making a criminal referral or referrals?”
“We’re in the midst of reaching a conclusion on that right now, should we make referrals, what kind of referrals should we make,” Schiff said.
“I don’t want to get ahead of that decision. But I can say that I think Judge Carter in California, who analyzed just one small piece of this, concluded that the former president and others were engaged, or there was evidence they were engaged, in a criminal conspiracy, evidence they were engaged in an effort to stop an official proceeding, the joint session,” he said.
In March, U.S. District Judge David Carter of the Central District of California said in a ruling in a civil case that it was “more likely than not that President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021. “
“I think the evidence is there to make a referral, and we just have to decide whether that’s the course we are going to take,” Schiff said.
Earlier in the discussion, Karl inquired about the reinstatement of Trump’s Twitter account by the social media platform’s new owner, billionaire Elon Musk, only hours before Schiff’s appearance.
More on this story via The Western Journal:
“I want to begin with the news overnight that Donald Trump has been reinstated by Elon Musk on Twitter. Watching the Jan. 6 committee hearings, Trump’s tweets were a big part of the story to be told. What do you think of him being back on Twitter?” Karl asked. CONTINUE READING…