January 6 Committee Recommends Criminal Charges Against Trump

What’s happening: After operating for 18 months and spending over $3 million in taxpayer funding, the January 6 House committee wants to criminally charge former President Donald Trump for inciting the Capitol riot and conspiring against the government.

The charges: The committee claims that Trump breached four federal criminal statutes—obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, insurrection, conspiring to defraud the United States, and conspiracy to make a false statement.

But the partisan January 6 committee ignores these realities:

• Trump overwhelmingly urged protesters to be peaceful,

• There were FBI agents embedded in the Capitol riot,

• Outside agitators like the Oath Keepers were present and had their own objectives,

• The federal government deliberately refused to increase security despite known security threats,

• And the vast majority of protesters were allowed inside the Capitol by police.

Why it matters: The charges against Trump for the January 6 Capitol riot are weak. Still, the committee has recommended charging him, with the ultimate goal of barring him from running for office in 2024.