Jan. 6 committee refers Trump to DOJ for criminal charges
Criminal referrals on multiple charges were approved unanimously.
The House select committee examining the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol has held its final public meeting.
The panel voted to approve criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump regarding his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Here's how the story developed:
- Trump responds to the Jan. 6 committee's criminal referrals
- Committee releases 160-page executive summary of final report
- Who is John Eastman?
- Panel refers four Republican lawmakers to the House Committee on Ethics
- Committee votes to approve referrals, final report
- Committee approves four criminal referrals for Trump
Committee expected to recommend criminal charges
Monday is the last public meeting of the Jan. 6 committee, with ABC News learning members are expected to recommend criminal charges be pursued against former President Donald Trump in connection with the Capitol attack nearly two years ago.
Sources familiar with the committee’s deliberations say the recommended charges will include conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an official proceeding. The committee also is considering recommending Trump be charged with insurrection.
Members have been working against the clock to try to finish their work before Republicans take control of the House in the new year.
Any decision about whether to bring any charges against the former president would be left to the Department of Justice. DOJ has been conducting its own parallel investigation into the events of Jan. 6 and isn't obligated to act on congressional referrals.
-ABC News' Katherine Faulders
Trump 'lost the 2020 election and knew it,' chairman says
After gaveling in the committee's meeting, Chairman Bennie Thompson said Donald Trump broke the "faith in our system" when he failed to accept the results of the 2020 election.
"He lost the 2020 election and knew it, but he chose to try to stay in office through a multi-part scheme, overturn the results and blocked the transfer of power," Thompson said.
"In the end, he summoned the mob to Washington knowing they were armed and angry, pointed them to the Capitol and told them to fight like hell," Thompson added. There's no doubt about this."