News / Politics

US Justice Dept. investigating Trump’s actions as part of Jan. 6 probe

Wednesday, 27 July 2022 5:42 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 July 2022 5:49 PM ]

US President Donald Trump participates in a Thanksgiving teleconference with members of the United States Military, at the White House in Washington, DC, November 26, 2020. (File photo by AFP)

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating former President Donald Trump’s actions leading up to the January 6 assault on the US Capitol by his legions of supporters who were protesting against the 2020 presidential election result.

Reports quoting people familiar with the probe said the inquiry was related to the DOJ's broader probe of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Prosecutors who are questioning witnesses before a grand jury have asked in recent days about conversations with Trump, his lawyers, and others in his inner circle. They were also examining the former president’s conversations and had seized phone records of top aides.

Some of the questions focused directly on the extent of Trump’s involvement in the fake-elector effort led by his outside lawyers, including John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani, sources said.

The prosecutors have asked detailed questions about meetings Trump led in December 2020 and January 2021 as part of his pressure campaign on Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election.

The Washington Post first reported that the the DOJ was investigating Trump's actions leading up to the January 6 insurrection. The Post also reported that the DOJ has acquired phone records of aides, including former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said an interview that aired on "NBC Nightly News" on Tuesday that “anyone” could be held accountable. “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.”

More than 850 people across all 50 states have been arrested in connection with the 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Trump claimed the election was rigged by the Washington establishment in favor of Joe Biden, the current president. Some Republicans still believe the election was stolen from Trump, and he is the legitimate president of the United States.

Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol in the hope of preventing lawmakers from certifying Biden's victory, thus overturning the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, but to no avail.

Angry protesters clashed with police and tried to beat up a number of Democratic lawmakers. They also damaged some parts of the building housing both wings of Congress.

At least five people, including a US Capitol police officer, died in the ensuing clashes, with dozens of policemen and Trump supporters getting injured.

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