The House of Inquiry into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault on Monday unanimously recommended criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, including one for calling for insurrection.
The commission of inquiry also recommended that the former president be prosecuted for obstructing an official process (the certification of the results of a presidential election), conspiracy against the American state and false declarations.
“The commission has gathered significant evidence showing that President Trump intended to disrupt the peaceful transition of power as provided for in our Constitution,” House of Representatives Jamie Raskin said shortly before a vote.
“We believe that the evidence accumulated during our investigation justifies the recommendation of criminal prosecution against Donald Trump,” he added.
These charges are punishable by prison terms and disqualification from holding public office.
The commission has no authority to initiate these criminal proceedings itself and can only issue a recommendation to the US Department of Justice, which alone has the authority to indict the former US president, if necessary.
On January 6, 2021, supporters of former President Trump, claiming – wrongly – like him that the 2020 presidential election had been “stolen” from him by Joe Biden, violently attacked the headquarters of Congress in Washington to stop the certification of results, shaking American democracy.