Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the House committee investigating the Capitol riot, pushed during an appearance this weekend on CBS for action by the Justice Department against Donald Trump. As Schiff put it:
‘The attorney general has committed to following the evidence wherever it may lead, and it has led to Donald Trump. And so, I think the president should be investigated. Whether they’ll ultimately conclude they have proof beyond a reasonable doubt to charge him and to convict him, that will be up to the department. But what we have demonstrated just in the last couple hearings is that when all else failed… he made the decision to bring a mob to the Capitol… He wanted to march with that mob — that armed and dangerous mob — to the Capitol. And when he was refused, and brought to the safety of the cafeteria or the dining room in the White House, he wouldn’t lift a finger as he watched on TV police officers being beaten, and gouged, and sprayed with chemicals in the most supreme dereliction of duty ever.’
Asked in a follow-up question about whether the committee continued investigating potential links between militia groups involved in the Capitol violence and Trump administration officials, Schiff added:
‘That remains an ongoing part of our investigation. We have certainly shown some links between the president, key advisers like Roger Stone and Mike Flynn, and elements of these white nationalist groups, but that component of our investigation continues. And, as is the case more broadly, witnesses continue to come forward. We’ll be presenting new information in the fall. But, as we continue to ask about additional evidence, I think we really need to think about what we’ve demonstrated already, about the president’s knowledge that the election wasn’t stolen, and his response, and his intent. And to me that is most graphically demonstrated when he told top Justice Department officials basically to just say the election was stolen or just say it was corrupt and that he would take care of the rest.’
Schiff also indicated he hopes personnel at the Justice Department “understand the implications of what we’re presenting.” None of the evidence the riot committee’s revealed has led to any kind of mass break in the GOP from the former president, who’d still probably be the presumptive 2024 nominee for the party if he follows through on his endless hinting at running again. Watch Schiff below:
"I think the president should be investigated," Rep. Adam Schiff tells @margbrennan on the DOJ potentially prosecuting former Pres. Trump in relation to Jan. 6. Schiff says Trump's actions that day were "the most supreme dereliction of duty ever." pic.twitter.com/MHd0p9fNcM
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 24, 2022
Asked about any evidence that links former Trump White House officials to groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, Jan. 6 committee member Rep. Adam Schiff said:
“That remains an ongoing part of our investigation… We will be presenting new information in the fall.” pic.twitter.com/6A3o62CgIi
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) July 24, 2022
Although the House committee investigating the riot recently finished up with a high-profile round of public hearings featuring a series of witnesses with personal access to key components of the electoral process and the Trump administration in the time around January 6, they’re planning more hearings for later this year. The panel will also be putting out a final report summarizing what the investigation’s uncovered. This weekend, fellow committee members including Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) also appeared on Sunday morning television. Kinzinger said he believes there’s evidence of personal involvement by Trump in criminal activities, and he stuck by his stance even when further questioned by ABC host Jonathan Karl about the historical nature of any prosecution of Trump. Trump is also facing an intensifying criminal investigation in Georgia by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into efforts in the state to undercut Biden’s 2020 election win there.
