Jan. 6 Committee releases 154-page executive summary detailing Trump’s ‘unlawful’ conduct, criminal referrals

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The special House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol released a 154-page executive summary on Monday detailing its impetus for referring criminal charges against the former President Donald Trump at the Justice Department.

“What Donald Trump did after the 2020 election is something no president has ever done in our country,” said Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. “In a shocking betrayal of his oath, Donald Trump attempted a plan that led to an attack on a pillar of our democracy.”

The panel, made up of seven Democrats and two anti-Trump Republicans, argued at the committee’s last meeting that Trump’s conduct before and after Jan. 6 was “unlawful.”

“President Trump’s decision to falsely declare victory on election night and, unlawfully, to call for the vote counting to stop, was not a spontaneous decision,” the introductory report read. “It was prepared.”

The committee is expected to release its final comprehensive report on Wednesday.

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“President Trump’s decision to declare victory on election night and, illegally, to call for the vote counting to be stopped, was not a spontaneous decision,” the report said. “It was prepared.” (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The document says that even after legal challenges to overturn the 2020 election failed, Trump forced the Justice Department and state officials to decertify the results. That push, according to the committee, culminated in demands that then-Vice President Mike Pence deny Electoral College votes from states won by President Biden.

“Even the key individuals who worked closely with President Trump to try to overturn the 2020 election on January 6th ultimately admitted that they lacked factual evidence sufficient to change the outcome of the election, and they admitted that what they are trying to do is illegal,” the report said.

The summary includes the procedures the committee took to arrive at more than 15 specific findings.

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The panel’s preliminary report serves as the basis for its decision to refer Trump to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. Lawmakers say they have enough evidence that Trump obstructed an official proceeding of Congress, conspired to defraud the federal government, made a false statement, and incited, aided or abetted an insurrection.

“No person who behaves in that manner at that time can ever serve in any position of authority in our country again,” said Rep. Liz Cheney. “He is unfit for any office.” (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“No person who would behave in that manner at that moment in time could ever serve in any position of authority in our country again,” said Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican. “He is unfit for any office.”

A pending criminal referral carries no official legal weight, and the final determination of whether to pursue charges rests with Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Besides Trump, the January 6 committee also referred several GOP lawmakers to the House Ethics Committee for defying its congressional subpoenas. GOP lawmakers include House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. Ohio Rep. is also on the list. Jim Jordan, the incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Besides Trump, the committee on January 6 also referred several GOP lawmakers to the House Ethics Committee for defying its congressional subpoenas.

“This is simply a partisan and political stunt by a select committee that deliberately altered evidence, blocked minority representation on a committee for the first time in the history of the US House of Representatives, and failed to respond to numerous letters from Mr. Jordan and concerns surrounding the politicization and legitimacy of the committees’ work,” said a spokesman for Jordan.

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During its 18-month tenure, the committee gained access to thousands of documents and conducted nearly 1,000 interviews related to the Capitol protests.

Haris Alic is a political reporter for Fox News Digital covering Congress.

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