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For the first time ever, a congressional committee is recommending that a former US president be prosecuted.

This is about Jan 6, right?

It is. Yesterday, the Democratic-led House select committee investigating the Jan 6 insurrection held its final hearing. After 18 months of gathering and presenting their findings, the panel of seven Democrats and two Republicans voted unanimously to issue four criminal referrals against former President Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Now, the Justice Dept has to decide whether it’ll move forward with any of the following:

1) Conspiracy to defraud the US…The committee is accusing Trump of a multi-pronged plan to steal now-President Biden’s win, including by falsely claiming widespread election fraud. The panel maintains Trump also worked with his lawyer John Eastman to pressure then-VP Mike Pence to delay the election’s certification.

2) Conspiracy to make a false statement…The former president and his allies allegedly submitted a number of fake electors to Congress. And did it in an effort to turn-key swing states from Biden to Trump.

3) Insurrection…The committee believes Trump called on his supporters to descend on the US Capitol (see: his “be there, will be wild” message). And added that the former president refused to stop the violence even though he knew lives were at risk.

4) Obstruction of an official proceeding…The panel argues the former president was “directly and personally involved” in preventing the certification of the election process on Jan 6. And that he acted with “corrupt” purpose including by trying to pressure Pence.

So...will he be charged?

That’s up to the DOJ, whose AG has already set up a special counsel to also investigate Jan 6 and whether Trump removed gov docs when he left the White House. In the meantime, Eastman could also face criminal charges for his role in the above. And the committee also referred four House Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to the House Ethics Committee for not cooperating in the investigation. They wouldn’t face criminal charges. But the ethics committee — which is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans — could impose fines and recommend disciplinary action by the full House (think: expulsion, censure). But keep in mind: Republicans are taking over the lower chamber next year.

How are people responding?

Trump dismissed the committee as a “kangaroo court.” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he didn’t have any “immediate observations.” But that the nation “knows who is responsible for that day.” (And has called out Trump in the past.) Outgoing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) called Trump “unfit for any office.” Meanwhile, polls show Americans are concerned about political violence. But more than three-quarters of Republicans say it’s time to move on from Jan 6 — while 90% of Dems say that shouldn’t happen. Next up: the full report will be released tomorrow.

theSkimm

The Jan 6 committee — largely boycotted by the GOP — is wrapping up its investigation. Now, it’s up to the American public and DOJ to digest the findings. What happens next could impact everything from trust in US institutions to the safety and security of those institutions themselves.