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The DOJ is investigating Donald Trump as part of its Jan. 6 investigation, The Washington Post reported.
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Prosecutors have reportedly asked witnesses about Trump’s communications and meetings.
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Attorney General Merrick Garland said this week he has not ruled out impeaching Trump.
The Justice Department’s criminal investigation into the January 6 attack is increasingly focused on former President Donald Trump’s conduct in efforts to undo the 2020 election, according to The Washington Post.
Prosecutors have delved into the former president’s behavior after his loss to President Joe Biden, as well as the extent to which Trump was involved in his outside attorneys’ efforts to replace certified voters in states Biden won with Trump supporters, reported the outlet.
Two people familiar with the case told newspaper investigators before a grand jury asked recent witnesses about conversations with Trump, his lawyers and his allies. Prosecutors have inquired about meetings the former president held in December 2020 and January 2021; his efforts to convince Vice President Mike Pence not to certify the election results; and the level at which Trump is involved in his lawyers’ fake electoral scheme.
In interviews this month with two senior aides to Pence, investigators inquired about their knowledge of Trump’s actions, The Post reported. Former Pence chief of staff Marc Short testified before a grand jury last week. Another assistant, Greg Jacob, was also recently deposed.
The Justice Department investigation — which is separate from the House Select Committee investigation through Jan. 6 — has been coming at Trump for months, according to The Post, which reported that in April federal investigators obtained phone records belonging to top officials and aides. of the Trump administration. including former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
The Justice Department has come under increasing criticism for its slow investigation, especially as televised congressional committee hearings in recent weeks have fueled public interest in the uprising.
However, Attorney General Merrick Garland this week defended his department’s pace, saying prosecutors have taken urgent action “since the beginning.”
“The reason there’s speculation and uncertainty is that a fundamental premise of what we do as prosecutors and investigators is to do it out of the public eye,” Garland told NBC News.
The federal investigation, unlike the House panel, has the authority to initiate criminal investigations or issue federal charges as a result of its findings. As part of its investigation, the DOJ has already indicted more than 880 individuals involved in the siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
No former president has ever been criminally charged in US history. But Garland suggested this week that he has not ruled out suing Trump for his role in the attack.
“We pursue justice without fear or favour. We intend to hold accountable anyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6, for any attempt to disrupt the lawful transfer of power from one government to another.” , that’s what we do,” said the attorney general. “We don’t pay attention to other matters.”
A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
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