The House of Commons Inquiry into the Capitol Storming has recommended criminal charges for calling insurrection and conspiracy against the US state against Donald Trump. However, the historic event does not guarantee that a trial will take place.
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“If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time a special investigative committee of Congress has recommended that criminal charges of inciting insurrection be brought against a president, or a former president for that matter,” Rafael said. Jacob, expert in American politics and associate researcher at the Raoul-Dandurand Chair.
Recall that, on January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump who claimed, like him, that the presidential election had been stolen from him by Joe Biden, burst into Congress to stop the certification of the results.
In the aftermath of the events, five people were killed.
Following 18 months of investigation, the House of Commons Inquiry into the Capitol Assault recommended on Monday that criminal charges be brought against the former president, including for calling for insurrection and conspiracy to against the American State. It is by a unanimous vote that the seven Democrats and the two Republican members of the commission positioned themselves in favor of these recommendations.
Photo d’archives
Donald Trump supporters during the invasion of the Capitol, January 6, 2021.
We’ll see if it goes further
It will then be up to the US Department of Justice to establish whether or not charges will be filed against Trump. These grounds can lead to prison sentences and a ban on holding any public office, as the former president announced that he is re-entering the race for the White House for 2024.
“If he’s charged, if he’s charged, if he’s found guilty, yes he could go to jail, but we’re still a long way from that, as no criminal charges have been filed against him. […] it is not tomorrow the day before that we will see Trump incarcerated, ”he added.
Number two on the commission, Republican Liz Cheney, said his actions had shown he was “unfit” to hold new public office.
“Anyone who behaves like this at this time can never hold a position of power in this country again,” she said.
It will be up to the Justice Department, which has appointed a special prosecutor to independently investigate Donald Trump, to decide whether to prosecute him or not.
– With AFP
In the wake of the Proud Boys trial
The trial of five members of the far-right radical group Proud Boys, including leader Enrique Tarrio (pictured), began in the United States on Monday as jury selection was completed.
Members of the group known for its neofascist ideologies are charged with sedition in connection with the attack on the Washington Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The group made up of supporters of Donald Trump is accused of having caused chaos in the seat of Congress.
Remember that nearly 900 people who participated in the violence have been prosecuted, and in some cases, convicted.
On counts including sedition, defendants could face up to 20 years in prison.
The charges
AFP photo
Bennie Thompson, head of the commission.
Of the four charges, calling for insurrection is possibly the most serious. Remember that the people who carried out this insurrection have mostly already been tried and sentenced.
“It is a sign that there is a court which has recognized this crime. What remains to be established is whether Donald Trump was involved in this crime. The members of the committee believe that the evidence they have put in place is sufficient to prove it,” explains Pierre Martin, columnist at the Journal and professor of American politics at the University of Montreal.
Conspiracy against the US state, obstructing official process and making false statements are also among the charges issued.
Donald Trump “lost the 2020 election and knew it, but he chose to try to stay in power,” said Democrat Bennie Thompson, head of the House Inquiry Committee.
What the main interested party had to say
Before the charges were officially filed against him, Donald Trump had already spoken out on his platform, Truth Social, against the commission’s upcoming recommendation.
The former American president described the members of the parliamentary inquiry committee as “thugs”.
Mr. Trump also defended the speech he gave on January 6, 2021 and his other actions that day as “moderate and full of love”.
He had, at the time, called on his supporters to “fight like the devils”, without, however, expressly asking them to invade the Capitol.
On social networks, we read several positive comments in connection with the recommendations of the parliamentary committee, while others continued to defend the former American president.