A task force investigating the Jan. 6 attacks on the US Capitol released its final report just after 10 p.m. Thursday, days before Christmas.
The final report, which summarizes an 18-month investigation, details the commission’s findings on the Capitol protests and claims former President Donald Trump played a key role in motivating them.
“One man, former President Donald Trump, was largely responsible for January 6th, followed by many others,” the report said. The events of the day would not have happened.”
The House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will hold its final session on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Over 814 pages, committee members (7 Democrats and 2 Republicans) interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, gathered information from millions of pages of documents, and 10 hearings. Annotating content.
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The extensive report comes after the commission sent an inquiry to the Justice Department recommending that former President Trump be criminally prosecuted.
Referrals include obstructing official proceedings of Congress, conspiring to defraud the federal government, making false statements, inciting, assisting, or assisting and comforting riots.
The commission’s unprecedented criminal referral has no formal legal significance, and the final decision on whether to pursue prosecution rests with Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice.
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Commission members include Chairman Benny Thompson (D-Mississippi), Vice-Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California), Rep. Pete Aguilar (California Democrat), Rep. Stephanie. Murphy, D-Fla., Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, Elaine Luria, D-Va., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.
Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney (Republican, Wyoming) during the final session of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill, Washington, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. speaks. Committee Chair Benny Thompson, Mr. D, left.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
These are their findings:
In a foreword written by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she said the committee was “successful” in its intended efforts.
“The task force investigating the January 6 attacks succeeded in articulating and demonstrating in painstaking detail the vulnerabilities of democracy,” she wrote. underscores that our democratic institutions are as powerful as the commitment of those entrusted with their care.
In his preface, Thompson said that without the efforts of law enforcement officers “who put their lives on the line for hours”, those who broke into the Capitol “were dangerously close to success”.
The final report released by the House Select Committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2022, taken on Thursday, December 22, 2022.
(AP Photo/John Elswick)
Vice Chairman Cheney, who has repeatedly criticized Trump and has openly considered running for president in 2024, said Trump was the first time the United States had seen a president peacefully refuse to hand over powers after an election. said.
“Every president in our history has championed this orderly transfer of power, with one exception. It was the first time that we had refused our constitutional obligation to transfer to the United States,” she wrote.
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She also wrote that some high-ranking officials in the Trump administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, did not condone or cooperate with efforts to stay in power.
“As you read this report, please consider: Vice President Pence, along with the many other appointed officials surrounding Donald Trump, have beaten many of the worst parts of Trump’s plan to overturn the election. We worked to beat it, and it wasn’t a sure thing,” Cheney said.
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The committee also recommended amendments to the Constitution, including adding a provision to the 14th Amendment to prevent the person identified in the report, Trump, from holding public office in the future.
The report states: Those who defend and defend the Constitution and participate in the January 6th Rebellion will be properly disqualified and at least two-thirds of Congress, whether federal, state, civilian or military, will be elected to Congress. They will not be able to hold government office unless they act to remove obstacles. To 14th Amendment, Section 3.”
Video of former President Donald Trump appears on screens as the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its final session on Monday, December 19, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. It will be displayed in.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Trump released a statement Thursday following the report, saying he failed to draw attention to why the protesters had gathered in the first place. He also called it a “witch hunt” and reiterated earlier criticisms.
“The highly partisan non-selective committee report shows that Pelosi did not heed my recommendations regarding the use of the military in D.C., and that I used the words ‘peaceful and patriotic’. or deliberately failing to study the reasons for electoral fraud, which is the reason for the protest. ‘ he wrote to Truth Social.
Trump has officially announced that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to close the gap, but he currently leads in early polls over other potential candidates.
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The committee released its report just two weeks before the start of Congress’ next session, when Republicans will regain a majority in the House.
Fox News’ Tyler Olson, Brianna Herlihy, and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
