Donald Trump: What are the committee recommended criminal charges for January 6 Capitol riots?

Donald Trump, the 45th US President is making American history.

While many believe that the phrase ‘making history’ is coined as a positive, Donald Trump is making headlines for a negative reason, as he becomes the first former president to be referred to criminal charges by Congress.

The referral, which recommends Trump face four criminal charges, comes after a 16 month investigation by a committee dedicated to the Capitol riots that took place on January 6.

The Committee cannot charge Trump and his associates, and their suggestions are simply recommendations as the justice department does not have to follow them.

However, if Trump is indicted, the businessman would write his name in the history books once more as he would be the first to do so; critically as he makes a bid to enter the next Presidential race in 2024.

What happened on January 6?

On January 6, 2021 a group of Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C, following Trump’s loss in the 2020 Presidential Election.

The attack came as the supporters tried to prevent a joint session of Congress from counting votes to confirm Joe Biden’s victory.

Not only was the session delayed for several hours, but there were five casualties and more than $30 million worth of damage was created with property stolen and chambers vandalised.

After investigation by a select committee, Donald Trump was impeached for a second time, making him the only US President to have been impeached twice. The Committee found the attack was a part of a seven-step plan created by Trump himself.

What is the committee?

The committee responsible for recommending Trump and his associates for four criminal charges is named the ‘United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.’

It is a bipartisan committee that was put in charge to investigate the bloody attack in January last year, and was established on July 1, 2021.

The Committee was formed through a party-line vote and has two Republicans serving, namely Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, in addition to seven other seats.

To investigate the riots, the Committee held nine televised public hearings, reviewed over one million documents and interviewed more than one thousand people - with some of Trump’s inner circle being a part of proceedings.

Those who refused to testify were met with various prosecutions with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon sentenced to prison and Peter Navarro being indicted.

What do Trump’s charges mean?

Obstruction of an official proceeding

As the riots ensued in an attempt to stop Congress counting votes for Joe Biden, Trump was recommended to face an Obstruction of an official proceeding charge for his repeated attempts to ‘stop or undermine Congress’ certification.’

The statute makes it a crime to ‘corruptly’ impede, influence or obstruct any official proceeding, or attempt to do so.

Conspiracy to make a false statement

If a government official attempts to cover up a scheme or make false statements with the knowledge it is not true, they would be referred to this criminal charge.

Donald Trump and his supporters had planned to submit a group of fake electors in key states that would have swayed the 2020 election, according to the Committee.

Insurrection

Inciting, assisting or engaging in ‘any rebellion or insurrection against the United States authority’ is a criminal charge.

The Committee found that Donald Trump fell into this category by encouraging his supporters to take on Washington DC and failing to take action against them when the riots began.

Conspiracy to defraud the United States

As the 2020 election came to an end, the Committee understood that Donald Trump worked with others to not only impede the government’s duties but to also mislead the public about the results.

The crime recognises any ‘two or more persons conspiring to defraud or commit any offence against the US or other agency.’

What is next for Donald Trump?

Following the referral, if Trump was to be convicted for the four criminal charges the committee has accused him of committing, he could face up to 20 years in prison on top of fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Despite putting in a bid for the 2024 election. if he is found guilty by the justice department, Trump could be prohibited from running for future office.

IT cannot be forgotten that although Trump has been accused of committing four criminal charges, the former president is currently facing a host of civil cases too. For example, a special counsel is investigating Trump's handling of classified documents at his Mara-Lago estate after he left his office.