By Ebony Bowden
January 8, 2021 |
WASHINGTON — President Trump, son Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani may all be investigated and charged for their potential roles in inciting a violent mob that stormed the US Capitol, Washington, DC’s top prosecutor hinted Friday.
In an interview with “Good Morning America,” DC Attorney General Karl Racine, whose office is investigating dozens of rioters, laid the blame at the feet of the president for his fiery speech to supporters before many of them invaded Congress.
“I think the question is, how far up does it go? Clearly the Capitol was ground central in all of this mob’s behavior,” Racine said.
“Donald Trump Jr., Giuliani, even the president of the United States, were calling on their supporters and hate groups to go to the Capitol and in the words of Rudy Giuliani ‘exercise combat justice,'” he went on.Enlarge Image
“We’re going to investigate not only the mobsters but also those who invited the violence.”
The Department of Justice has not ruled out bringing charges against Trump, who will become a private citizen when he leaves office on Jan. 20.
In a call with reporters Thursday, Michael Sherwin, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, said his office would look at anyone involved in the riot who broke the law.
“We are looking at all actors here. Was there a command and control? Were there others that maybe assisted or facilitated or obviously played some ancillary role in this?” Sherwin said.
“Anyone that had a role, and the evidence fits the elements of a crime, they’re going to be charged,” he said.
When asked if that included the commander-in-chief, Sherwin responded: “I don’t want to sound like a broken record. We’re looking at all actors here.”
Five people, including a US Capitol Police officer, died in the violent riots when thousands of the president’s supporters invaded Congress as lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence were gathered inside to confirm Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
The president, Giuliani, Don Jr. and other Trump surrogates egged on supporters at a “Save America March” outside the White House before the riots, telling them the election had been stolen and to never accept the results. Giuliani even called for a “trial by combat” over the results.
The violent episode has caused an enormous fallout in the Trump administration, with several cabinet members resigning in the wake of the Capitol violence and calls mounting for Trump to be removed via the 25th Amendment and/or a second impeachment.
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