Rep. Jamie Raskin says the question is not whether potentially prosecuting a former president is the right thing for the country — but whether or not Trump engaged in criminal conduct.
"It's of special concern when there's an attempt to overthrow our election and essentially subdue our constitutional order and have someone seize the presidency who didn't win it," he says."And if members of Congress have knowledge of that and may have been involved in it but refuse to say anything about it, we're setting a precedent for future attacks on democracy itself.
As for Trump, who has already announced his bid for reelection, Raskin says the question is not whether potentially prosecuting a former president is the right thing for the country, but whether or not he engaged in criminal conduct.Trump satisfies the elements for obstructing an official proceeding, Raskin says, adding,"that was the whole purpose of his scheme and he succeeded in interrupting it for four hours, the only time that's ever happened in American history.
He adds that the former president also engaged in a conspiracy to make false statements and defraud the U.S. , and that he"acted to incite, assist and give aid and comfort to an insurrection." And it's based on those facts and laws that Trump should be held accountable, Raskin argues. "In a society where all of us are treated equally under the law, the fact that he's a former president would make no more difference than the fact that he's a former businessman or TV star," he says.about the committee's conclusions, what they mean for the public and what could happen next.On why Trump bears responsibility
More than 900 people have been prosecuted for crimes like assaulting federal officers, destroying federal property, seditious conspiracy, attempt to overthrow or put down the government. Why should the foot soldiers be going to jail and not the ringleaders and the masterminds of this scheme to defeat American democracy? Look, if Donald Trump had succeeded, he'd be bragging about it, how he was the one who came up with the whole plan.
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