Criminal Charges For Trump Pushed By Kinzinger During CNN Interview

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Outgoing Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who opted not to seek re-election last year, got behind criminal charges for Trump over January 6 on CNN early Sunday.

“If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, then really there’s no limit to what a president can do or can’t do,” Kinzinger said on Sunday morning. “I do think ultimately when we get to where we’re going to go, I think the Justice Department will do the right thing. I think he will be charged, and I frankly think he should be. Everything we’ve uncovered — from what he did with the Justice Department, to everything leading up to January 6, to on January 6 sitting there for 180 minutes and watching this occur in the hope that maybe — just maybe — that last attempt to stay in power will work… That’s my personal opinion.”

The outgoing Congressman also discussed the potentially damaging ramifications of setting a precedent for what is essentially a legal — and illegal — free-for-all after presidential elections if Trump goes without the kind of consequences he discussed. Although the House committee investigating the Capitol riot, which is on its way out, recommended Trump for prosecution by the Justice Department on federal criminal offenses including involvement in insurrection, it’s unclear how the department might eventually handle that recommendation, meaning whether it will actually bring a concurrent criminal case. The matter now seemingly rests largely under the purview of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who recently took over two department investigations directly involving Trump and operates what is normally largely independently. Kinzinger also said, however, that he was optimistic about the long-term future of American democracy even if struggles continue.

And those struggles might persist. Trump is making another run for the presidency, and he has already talked repeatedly about issuing pardons to riot participants if he regains presidential control. For now, Jamie Raskin — a Maryland Democratic Congressman who, like Kinzinger, was on the riot panel — also recently sounded keen on the prospect of Donald facing charges in an interview. Liz Cheney, the outgoing Wyoming Republican who helped lead the committee, also pushed for Trump never holding any office again. Check out Kinzinger’s interview below: