The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly investigating the actions of then-President Trump as part of its criminal probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“Prosecutors who are questioning witnesses before a grand jury — including two top aides to Vice President Mike Pence — have asked in recent days about conversations with Trump, his lawyers, and others in his inner circle who sought to substitute Trump allies for certified electors from some states Joe Biden won,” The Washington Post reported. “The prosecutors have asked hours of detailed questions about meetings Trump led in December 2020 and January 2021; his pressure campaign on Pence to overturn the election; and what instructions Trump gave his lawyers and advisers about fake electors and sending electors back to the states.”
During an NBC News interview with Lester Holt on Tuesday night, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the criminal investigation into the Capitol Riot was “the most wide ranging investigation in its history,” and that there will be things that the DOJ discovers that the House Select January 6th committee “haven’t found.”
When asked by Holt if indicting Trump would “tear the country apart,” Garland responded, “We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable.”
“That’s what we do,” he continued. “We don’t pay any attention to other issues with respect to that.”
Holt also asked if Trump announcing a 2024 presidential run would impact the way the DOJ would continue its investigation.
“I’ll say again that we will hold accountable anyone who was criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the transfer, legitimate, lawful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” Garland responded.
Merrick Garland: "We will hold accountable anyone who is criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the legitimate transfer of power from one administration to the next." pic.twitter.com/JvneGCRjDq
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 27, 2022
“Federal criminal investigations are by design opaque, and probes involving political figures are among the most closely held secrets at the Justice Department. Many end without criminal charges,” The Washington Post explained. “The lack of observable investigative activity involving Trump and his White House for more than a year after the Jan. 6 attack has fueled criticism, particularly from the left, that the Justice Department is not pursuing the case aggressively enough.”
