The US House January 6 committee chair says the committee will make criminal deferments

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WASHINGTON (RockedBuzz via Reuters) – The chairman of the committee of the U.S. House of Representatives investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol said Tuesday the committee has decided to file criminal referrals to the Justice Department.

“Yes,” Rep. Bennie Thompson told reporters when asked about the subject. He did not specify who could be referred, when or on what charges.

A postponement does not necessarily mean that the Justice Department, which is conducting its own investigation into the riot, will decide to press charges.

The Democrat-led House Select Committee has spent more than a year investigating the attack on the Capitol by thousands of Donald Trump supporters, after the then Republican president delivered a fiery speech claiming his defeat by Democrat Joe Biden’s part was the result of fraud.

Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly after the riot and more than 140 police officers were injured. The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage, and then-Vice President Mike Pence, members of Congress and staff fled for their lives amidst the chaos.

A subcommittee of the panel investigated whether to issue criminal deferments for Trump and some of his closest aides.

The panel is also expected to release a report on its findings this month. It is expected to be dissolved before Republicans take control of the House in January after winning a majority of seats in November’s midterm elections.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, editing by Deepa Babington)

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