Capitol invasion: January 6 committee approves criminal charges against Trump

The January 6 committee has voted to refer former President Donald Trump to the department of justice (DOJ) for at least four criminal charges.

The committee is a select panel from the United States house of representatives, to investigate the January 6 invasion of the US Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.

After a final public meeting on Monday, the committee said it had assembled a “roadmap to justice” against Trump and his allies.

While the referrals will largely be symbolic in nature because the committee does not have the power to make charges, committee members said the move would serve as a way to document their views.

The charges recommended by the committee are conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruction of an official proceeding of congress, conspiracy to make a false statement, and aiding in the insurrection.

Bennie Thompson, the committee’s chairperson, told CNN that evidence uncovered by the panel showed that the former president created a problem for the country.

“The committee looked at it long and hard, and from my vantage point, we couldn’t do anything except make the referral,” he said.

“It was clear in the evaluation of the evidence uncovered by our committee that those actions taken by the president, former President Trump, clearly created a problem for this country.

“We think it’s important for the justice department to look at that body of information that we put together.”

The justice department will ultimately decide whether to prosecute Trump or not.

Currently, the former president is the subject of multiple investigations into his conduct before, during, and after his first term as president.

He also faces a a $250 million civil lawsuit from the New York attorney-general over allegations that he and his children were involved in a decade-long fraud.

Last week, the Trump Corp. and Trump Payroll Corp — two companies  owned by the former president — were found guilty on multiple charges of criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records connected to a 15-year scheme.

The development comes after Trump announced his bid to contest the US presidency for a second term.