While the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th domestic terrorist attack on Congress does not have the authority to bring criminal charges itself, investigators and committee members are reportedly considering making criminal referrals to the Justice Department for Donald Trump and other Republican officials, the New York Times reports.
The investigators are contemplating criminal referrals for Donald Trump and others in his cabal based on a charge recently support by the courts: obstruction of Congress. The group is also considering if it has sufficient evidence to charge RNC and other fundraisers for wire fraud because they knew the election fraud claims were false, but they used it as a cornerstone of their fundraising efforts.
After interviewing more than 300 witnesses, committee members and investigators reportedly believe they have enough evidence to support criminal prosecutions for those charges. It’s unknown what specific items of evidence are known to the committee or what may have prompted these discussions among the team.
Such a move may push Attorney General Merrick Garland to file charges against those involved, given that the referral was made by Congress. Garland could be questioned later, during oversight hearings, why he or other DOJ lawyers didn’t file charges.