US Jan 6 committee to make criminal referrals to Justice Department

The House January 6 select committee will make criminal referrals to the US justice department in connection with its investigation into the Capitol attack, raising tensions ahead of the release of its final report, which is expected later this month.

The targets and details about the referrals were not immediately clear, and the panel chairman Bennie Thompson affirmed to reporters that only the panel would issue citations.

A four-member subcommittee established to consider the issue recommended that the full committee seek prosecution from the justice department for a number of individuals connected to January 6, a source said.

The referrals could be made up of two tracks: citations for things that Congress can request prosecution by statute, such as perjury or witness tampering, or wider-ranging recommendations such as making the case that Donald Trump obstructed an official proceeding on January 6.

The four-member subcommittee led by Congressman Jamie Raskin and the other members with legal backgrounds, Liz Cheney, Adam Schiff and Zoe Lofgren made its recommendations on Friday about referrals and subpoena noncompliance by Republican members of Congress.

Referrals to outside entities should be considered a final part of the committee's work. A spokesman for the panel said that the committee will make decisions about specifics in the days ahead.