US House Jan 6 committee to make criminal referrals, chairman says

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection will make criminal referrals to the Justice Department, its chairman said Tuesday.

Asked about the matter on Capitol Hill, Bennie Thompson told reporters the committee has agreed to make the referrals but noted that it has yet to finalize its list of individuals who will be referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution.

The committee is slated to convene later Tuesday.

Any referrals will be made separately from the committee's final report, Thompson said, according to CNN. Thompson added that the committee is still evaluating whether it believes any of the dozens of witnesses who testified during more than a year-and-a-half of hearings perjured themselves.

The final report is expected to be issued before a new Republican-held House takes form next year.

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy vowed last week that Republicans will probe the committee after they assume power. He demanded the panel maintain all evidence it has gathered.

“You have spent a year and a half and millions of taxpayers' dollars conducting this investigation. It is imperative that all information collected be preserved not just for institutional prerogatives but for transparency to the American people,” McCarthy wrote in a letter to Thompson.

Thompson said Wednesday that the panel will soon release its final report on the investigation.

"We plan to make available transcripts and other materials," Thompson told reporters.​​​​​​​