- The US attorney in Washington, DC, said on Thursday that federal prosecutors are investigating President Donald Trump’s role in inciting the violent riots that rocked the Capitol on Wednesday and resulted in four deaths.
- “We are looking at all the actors here, not just the people who entered the building, but … there were others who maybe helped, or facilitated, or played an auxiliary role in that,” Michael Sherwin told reporters by telephone.
- When specifically asked whether this included Trump, he replied, “We are examining all the actors here and anyone who has played a role. If the evidence fits the element of a crime, they will be charged.”
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Michael Sherwin, the US attorney in Washington, DC, told reporters on Thursday that his office is investigating President Donald Trump’s role in inciting a frantic crowd of his supporters to invade the U.S. Capitol.
Wednesday’s disruption forced the House and Senate to go into recess and lawmakers, reporters and Hill officials to evacuate the building, resulting in four deaths.
When asked whether federal prosecutors will examine Trump’s statements made at a rally before the riots in which he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and ask lawmakers to revoke the 2020 elections, Sherwin replied, “Yes, we are looking at all the actors here, not just the people who entered the building, but … there were other people who might help or facilitate or play an auxiliary role in that. “
“We will examine each actor and all criminal charges,” he added.
The Washington Post reported that when Sherwin was specifically pressured about whether that included the president, he said, “We are looking at all the actors here, and anyone who played a role. If the evidence fits the element of a crime, they will to be charged. “
At a “March for Trump” demonstration in Washington, DC, on Wednesday morning, the president told his supporters to “fight like hell” to stop Congress from ending President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, effectively overthrowing the results of a democratic and free process and fair election.
After the Capitol was secured on Wednesday night, Congress met again, finished counting the electoral votes for the November election, and confirmed that Biden got 306 votes – and the presidency – compared to Trump’s 232.
Hours after releasing his supporters on Capitol Hill and minutes after Congress certified Biden’s victory, Trump’s communications aide, Dan Scavino, posted a statement from the president on Twitter promising an “orderly transition” on January 20.