Posted by on December 19, 2022 2:14 pm
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Categories: Insurrection and Political Violence

For the first time in American history, a congressional committee has referred a former president to the Justice Department for prosecution.

After the House Committee on January 6th’s chairman, Rep. Benny Thompson, gavelled in today’s public hearing and made an opening statement, Rep. Liz Cheney scorched ex-president Donald J. Trump’s inaction during the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren detailed the scope and breadth of Trump’s Big Lie – as did Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

Rep Adam Schiff focused on the pressure Trump applied to election officials. at local, state and federal level.

Rep. Peter Aguilar put the spotlight on the threat to then-Vice Presidnet Pence’s life.

Rep. Jamie Raskin laid out the good news for America: “The House Jan. 6 committee has decided to recommend the Justice Department pursue criminal charges against former President Donald Trump [and his lawyer John Eastman – and others], including obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiring to make false statements, and insurrection.”

The Committee will issue a 100-plus summary report per NY Times.

NY Times’ Mike bender points out that “[r]egardless of legal repercussions, Jan. 6 will hang over Trump’s third White House bid.”

Oh, and this:

In addition, several others are named as being participants in the conspiracies the committee is linking to Trump, including then-DOJ attorney Jeffrey Clark and Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, as well as Trump-tied lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Rudy Giuliani.

… and check out Ari Melber’s reaction.

More at NY Times, Guardian, WaPo, and HuffPo.

This story is DEVELOPING and likely to be updated.