Jan. 6 committee issues criminal referral of Trump to the Justice Department

Trump may face criminal charges related to insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the government and obstructing an official proceeding.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) delivers remarks during the fourth hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building on June 21, 2022 in Washington, DC.

By Madeleine Hubbard

The House Jan. 6 committee on Monday made four criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump to the Justice Department during the panel's final hearing.

In a voice vote, the panel unanimously recommended for the Justice Department to prosecute Trump for obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement to the federal government and inciting, assisting or aiding an insurrection.

Former Trump attorney John Eastman was also referred for conspiracy to defraud the country and obstruct an official congressional proceeding.

The agency may not follow the panel's recommendations as it is conducting a separate investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, which followed a "Stop the Steal" rally against the 2020 election results.

The House panel also recommended for the Hosue Ethics Committee to make a formal inquiry into House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other Trump allies, Republican Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Andy Biggs (Ariz.). All men refused to cooperate with the Jan. 6 probe.

The committee had previously requested the four congressmen to appear voluntarily, but after the lawmakers refused the panel issued subpoenas for their testimony. None of the Republicans have complied with the committee.

Hours before the committee's business hearing, Trump reposted a video on Truth Social of him telling protesters via Twitter on Jan. 6 to "go home."

After airing videos of testimony, the panel issued its final report on Monday, concluding a nearly year-and-a-half-long probe.

Jan. 6 committee member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) at the hearing said the panel found evidence that attorneys connected to the former president offered jobs to witnesses in a possible attempt to coerce them to conceal information.

Fellow committee member Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) said the panel found evidence that Trump planned on going to the Capitol building on Jan. 6, although he ultimately did not.