The United States committee on the Capitol Hill riots has recommended prosecuting Donald Trump for four different crimes — actions that touch not only the former president's efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election but also his behaviour during last year's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
However, the committee's referrals to the Justice Department carry no legal weight since federal prosecutors are already conducting their own investigation.
Here are the four laws the January 6 panel said were broken by the former US President during the 2021 riots.
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Obstruction to an official proceeding: Panel said Trump called on his supporters to stop the counting of electoral votes in US Congress that would certify Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential polls
Conspiracy to defraud United States: The committee says Trump did exactly that by trying to obstruct the counting despite being told by aides that there was no fraud by angrily beseeching Pence to delay that certification
Conspiracy to make a false statement: This refers to an alleged scheme by Trump allies to submit “fake electors” in battleground states won by Biden as a way to obstruct the certification of the results and invalidate his victory. Those electors signed “patently false” certifications, the committee says, and the panel maintains it has evidence Trump was a participant in the scheme.
Inciting or aiding an insurrection: The inclusion of this statute represents an attempt by the committee to hold Trump accountable for the riot itself — not only for his actions but for his inaction, too.
Under the statute, Trump need not have coordinated with supporters to carry out a rebellion. Instead, one could violate the statute simply by aiding an insurrection or giving comfort to those actually participating in it.
The committee says Trump summoned rioters to Washington on Jan. 6 with the goal of mobilizing a large crowd of supporters — in fact, the committee observes, some of the accused rioters charged by the Justice Department have cited Trump's tweets encouraging them to come as their inspiration.
Once they were inside the building, the committee notes, Trump showed no concern when they chanted “Hang Mike Pence!" and for hours the president resisted the pleas of advisers who told him to tell the rioters to disperse.
(with AP inputs)