- Jan 6. Committee members Schiff and Cheney spoke on Sunday about the Capitol Riot Investigation.
- They both said that Donald Trump had committed wrongdoing.
- They said that the panel would give a unanimous verdict in either direction when it decides to refer Trump for trial.
Two of House Jan. 6 committee’s most senior members stated they believe Donald Trump committed wrongdoing regarding the riot. But, the committee would act unanimously if it decided to refer the former president to prosecution.
Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democratic member, and Rep. Liz Cheney were interviewed separately over the weekend about the investigation. The public hearings of the panel will resume on Wednesday.
Schiff stated that he would align his decision with the rest of committee to ensure that the committee acts unanimously. He also said that Trump should be referred.
“We work with a high level of consensus and unity.” Schiff said it to CNN’s Jake TapperSunday, the ‘State of the Union’. “It will definitely be my recommendation, my feeling that we should make referrals. However, we will reach a decision as an entire committee and we will all adhere to that decision. I will also join our members if they feel otherwise.
“I do agree there have been several laws broken and it is, I think, apparent that there is evidence that Donald Trump was involved in breaking several of those laws,” Schiff continued.
“When Congress finds evidence of people breaking the law, it doesn’t always mean that it refers, but in cases like these, I think it’s the better argument.”
Interview with the Texas TribuneRep. Liz Cheney echoed the sentiment.
Cheney has been expelled from her Wyoming Congress seat for her participationIn an investigation, she claimed that Trump was involved in plotting to defeat the 2020 election. She also stated that she believed that any verdict that the panel came up would be unanimous.
Cheney stated that one of the things that surprised him the most about his work on the committee was how complex the plan was. He was involved in every step and was responsible for it. He was directly and personally involved in the multi-part plan.
She stated she was expecting a unanimous panel decision, regardless of the conclusions.
“I think we will be unanimous,” she said. “In any action we take, it will be unanimous.”
The committee will make a decision about whether to refer Trump to the Justice Department after it has concluded its investigation. This was more than one year ago. It is expected to do this before the November midterms. Reuters reported.
The DOJ is conducting a separate investigation into this riot. It recently touched on Trump’s inner circle of aides.
The committee held dramatic public hearings this summer to hear how Trump, months after his defeat in the 2020 election, made baseless claims about that victory. Even though he knew or should have known that his claims had been falsified, he was taken advantage of.
Former White House aide told how he attempted to lead a mob towards the Capitol, knowing that they were armed. When he returned to Washington, he refused the pleas of his allies to stop the violence.
Previous statements by members of the Committee were mixed on whether Trump would be referred to prosecution. Rep. Bennie Thompson’s June MessageThe panel refused to refer the former President for prosecution. He was met with resistance by other members of the panel.
Trump denied any wrongdoing, but praised the rioters. He also said that he would be open for pardoning anyone convicted in connection to the riot if he is reelected president.
