January 6 panel 'far out ahead' of Justice Department’s criminal probe: Schiff
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who also sits on the House committee investigating the January 6 riot, has defended the purpose of potential criminal referrals, saying the panel has “been far out ahead” of the Justice Department’s probe into the assault on Congress.
Schiff said on Sunday that the evidence collected and presented in public hearings, as well as new information to be featured in a final report, will be of use to Department of Justice’s criminal investigation.
The Democratic representative rejected the idea that the House select committee referrals would look political, because those reportedly under consideration — including former President Donald Trump — are already under scrutiny by the Justice Department.
“I think it makes an important statement, not a political one, but a statement about the evidence of an attack on the institutions of our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power, that Congress examining an attack on itself is willing to report criminality,” Schiff said.
He said that the committee agreed that “that there is evidence of criminality here and we want to make sure that the Justice Department is aware of that.”
Committee Chair Bennie Thompson said previously that they would refer at least one person. A public vote is set for Dec. 21 — the date the final report is to be published.
A subcommittee of lawyers presented recommendations to the entire panel on Sunday on who should be referred to the department and the suggested charges.
During the Jan. 6 riot, Trump supporters, encouraged by the president's remarks earlier in the day, occupied the US Capitol while lawmakers were in the process of certifying Biden's electoral victory.
Some Trump supporters had hoped that this process could have resulted in some of the electors being disqualified, thus overturning the outcome of the presidential election.
Now, the Democratic-led committee is expected to make a formal request to the US Justice Department that it consider charging Trump.
The House said early last month it believed Trump might have committed multiple felonies.
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