PRESS RELEASE Contact: [email protected]
For Immediate Release
Date: December 19, 2022
Washington, DC – Today, the House Select Committee to investigate January 6th met publicly for the final time, revealing never-before-seen testimony from Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway and issuing a series of criminal referrals for Donald Trump and some of his co-conspirators.
“Over the past year, the January 6th Committee proved that Donald Trump and his MAGA allies planned and promoted a criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the election they knew they lost,” said Defend Democracy Project Communications Director Nicole Haley. “The bipartisan committee sifted through mountains of evidence, including testimony from Trump’s inner circle, in order to issue today’s referrals and make recommendations. Because of their fact-based approach, the committee earned the trust of the American people.
“Now, it’s up to the Justice Department and the courts to hold those responsible accountable for the criminal conspiracy. But threats to our democracy remain. MAGA Republicans are now in control of the House of Representatives, many state legislatures, and the Supreme Court. They will stop at nothing to take away our most fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
Key Takeaways:
1. The committee unanimously referred Donald Trump, John Eastman, and others to the Department of Justice on the basis of four statutes:
- Obstruction of an official proceeding: Trump and others conspired to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
- Conspiracy to defraud the United States: Trump and his allies spread lies about election fraud.
- Conspiracy to make a false statement: Trump and others conspired to send fake electors to Congress.
- “Incite,” “Assist” or “Aid or Comfort” an Insurrection.
2. The committee referred four members of Congress to the ethics committee for failure to comply with lawful committee subpoenas.
- House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, Representative Jim Jordan, Representative Scott Perry, and Representative Andy Biggs were referred to the House Ethics Committee.
3. Over the past year, the Committee proved Trump and MAGA allies planned and promoted a violent, criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election they knew they lost:
- They knew they lost – and planned to declare victory before the election even took place.
- They knew there was no evidence of voter fraud.
- They illegally pressured VP Pence to unilaterally overturn the election.
- They illegally pressured state legislatures to overturn the election, harassing innocent election workers in the process.
- They illegally pressured the Department of Justice to help them overturn the election.
- They knowingly sent an armed mob to the Capitol to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
- They were in contact with – and incited – extremist groups to come to the Capitol; and involved Republican members in the plot.
4. New evidence and testimony shows even further evidence of Trump’s dereliction of duty.
- Hope Hicks testified that Trump ignored her and Eric Herschmann’s request to call for a peaceful protest.
- Kellyanne Conway testified that Trump minimized the seriousness of the attack.
- The committee said witnesses were offered employment – offers that were rescinded once
5. Grave threats to our country and our democracy remain.
- MAGA Republicans control the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court, and gained power in the states.
- Almost 900 state legislators with far-right ties – which is nearly 22% of all GOP state lawmakers – won their elections.
- MAGA Republican state legislatures and state courts continue to make it more difficult to vote and pick which voters get to vote.
###
