According to a new study, President Joe Biden has indicated that he wants former President Donald Trump prosecuted.
The Times reported the leak on Saturday as Democrats step up their calls for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Trump and those in his circle over the Capitol incident. The AG’s “deliberative approach,” as characterized by the article, is generating a lot of frustration.
“Mr. Biden revealed to his closest advisors late last year that he thinks President Donald J. Trump is a danger to democracy and should be charged, according to two people familiar with his remarks,” the report said. “While the president has never directly communicated his frustrations to Mr. Garland, he has privately stated that he wished Mr. Garland would act more like a prosecutor who was willing to take quick action in response to the events of Jan. 6.”
What he will be indicted for is uncertain. However, the House committee looking into the Capitol protest claims its investigators have evidence to suggest that Trump and his associates broke several laws in an attempt to prevent 2020 election certification. The panel alleged in a recent court filing that it has evidence indicating that Trump may have committed a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States and illegally obstruct Congress’s vote-counting process.
The committee, however, is restricted to making a criminal recommendation. The burden of proof remains with the DOJ.According to the New York Times, Trump and his associates have consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing relating to the Capitol riot, which occurred on the day Congress met to confirm Biden’s 2020 reelection bid, as well as its associated events. Steve Bannon has been charged with contempt by a federal grand jury for failing to comply with subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee, while former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has so far evaded prosecution.
A White House spokeswoman claimed that Biden “is immensely proud of the AG’s service in the administration and has no involvement with prosecutorial goals or judgments.”
Democrats have called for the Department of Justice to be more aggressive in dealing with the Capitol riot case, and that Garland hould be more proactive. “We are fulfilling our duty,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, a member of the Jan. 6 committee. “Attorney General Garland, do your job so we may do ours,”
In October, Biden urged the DOJ to prosecute anybody who defied a Congressional inquiry’s subpoenas.
Biden replied, “Yes,” when asked if the DOJ should pursue prosecutions against individuals who refused to comply with House Jan. 6 select committee subpoenas. “I’m hoping that the committee goes after them and holds them criminally accountable,” the president added.
