'Trump’s Culpability' diff viewer (0/1)

This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on December 20, 2022 12:06 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/briefing/trump-jan-6.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Previous version 1 Next version

Previous version 1 Next version

Version 0	Version 1
Trump’s Culpability	Trump’s Culpability
2022-12-20 12:08:13 UTC	2022-12-20 12:40:21 UTC (32 minutes later)
Donald Trump knowingly led a dangerous conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and should be held criminally responsible for the violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That was the damning final word of a watershed congressional investigation that wrapped up its work yesterday.	Donald Trump knowingly led a dangerous conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and should be held criminally responsible for the violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That was the damning final word of a watershed congressional investigation that wrapped up its work yesterday.
Astonishing as it is, the conclusion may have been somewhat expected, particularly for Americans who watched former Trump aides and others testify at explosive hearings this past summer. But the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack offered something definitive at a time when Trump and his allies continue to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and its aftermath. It delivered an exhaustive account, built on Trump’s own words and testimony by his advisers, of just how thoroughly a sitting president trampled over American democracy.	Astonishing as it is, the conclusion may have been somewhat expected, particularly for Americans who watched former Trump aides and others testify at explosive hearings this past summer. But the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack offered something definitive at a time when Trump and his allies continue to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and its aftermath. It delivered an exhaustive account, built on Trump’s own words and testimony by his advisers, of just how thoroughly a sitting president trampled over American democracy.
“The central cause of Jan. 6 was one man, former President Donald Trump, who many others followed,” the committee wrote in a lengthy summary of its findings, ahead of the release of a final report later this week. “None of the events of Jan. 6 would have happened without him.”	“The central cause of Jan. 6 was one man, former President Donald Trump, who many others followed,” the committee wrote in a lengthy summary of its findings, ahead of the release of a final report later this week. “None of the events of Jan. 6 would have happened without him.”
The committee, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, was so convinced of Trump’s culpability that it took an unprecedented step at its final meeting yesterday: Its members voted to refer their findings to the Justice Department and urge officials there to criminally prosecute Trump and several associates.	The committee, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, was so convinced of Trump’s culpability that it took an unprecedented step at its final meeting yesterday: Its members voted to refer their findings to the Justice Department and urge officials there to criminally prosecute Trump and several associates.
Nearly 18 months ago, when the House first created a special committee to investigate Jan. 6, lawmakers gave the panel a broad mandate to look at all of the attack’s “facts, circumstances, and causes.” Yet from the outset, there was little doubt about its most important task: determining Trump’s level of responsibility.	Nearly 18 months ago, when the House first created a special committee to investigate Jan. 6, lawmakers gave the panel a broad mandate to look at all of the attack’s “facts, circumstances, and causes.” Yet from the outset, there was little doubt about its most important task: determining Trump’s level of responsibility.
To find out, investigators interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and reviewed text messages, memos and other documents from within Trump’s orbit. Nearly all of the committee’s major findings centered on Trump and the “multipart conspiracy” that it said he led. Among their chief discoveries:	To find out, investigators interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and reviewed text messages, memos and other documents from within Trump’s orbit. Nearly all of the committee’s major findings centered on Trump and the “multipart conspiracy” that it said he led. Among their chief discoveries:
Beginning on election night, Trump “purposely disseminated false allegations of fraud” in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden.	Beginning on election night, Trump “purposely disseminated false allegations of fraud” in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden.
Despite the fact that aides were telling him he had lost and was likely violating the law, Trump pressured state elections officials, the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence to make false statements, change election results or otherwise aid his efforts.	Despite the fact that aides were telling him he had lost and was likely violating the law, Trump pressured state elections officials, the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence to make false statements, change election results or otherwise aid his efforts.
Trump “verified false information” to courts and oversaw an attempt to assemble and submit to Congress false election results in key states.	Trump “verified false information” to courts and oversaw an attempt to assemble and submit to Congress false election results in key states.
After urging thousands of supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and “take back” their country, Trump watched the bloody siege unfold on television. For hours, he refused requests to ask his supporters to stand down and did not ask the National Guard to intervene.	After urging thousands of supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and “take back” their country, Trump watched the bloody siege unfold on television. For hours, he refused requests to ask his supporters to stand down and did not ask the National Guard to intervene.
The committee used that evidence as its basis to accuse Trump of committing federal crimes, including inciting insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an act of Congress. (My colleague Alan Feuer explained key committee findings here.)	The committee used that evidence as its basis to accuse Trump of committing federal crimes, including inciting insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an act of Congress. (My colleague Alan Feuer explained key committee findings here.)
In a social media post before the committee voted, Trump dismissed it as “highly partisan.”	In a social media post before the committee voted, Trump dismissed it as “highly partisan.”
The committee’s findings have already damaged Trump politically. But a pressing question remains: Will Trump face legal repercussions beyond a sternly worded congressional report?	The committee’s findings have already damaged Trump politically. But a pressing question remains: Will Trump face legal repercussions beyond a sternly worded congressional report?
The answer lies with prosecutors. Justice Department prosecutors, in particular, have been investigating many of the same issues as the congressional committee. Their inquiry is now led by a special counsel, whose team recently issued subpoenas to officials in states where Trump tried to reverse electoral results.	The answer lies with prosecutors. Justice Department prosecutors, in particular, have been investigating many of the same issues as the congressional committee. Their inquiry is now led by a special counsel, whose team recently issued subpoenas to officials in states where Trump tried to reverse electoral results.
Criminal referrals, like the ones the Jan. 6 committee approved, are not legally binding. The Justice Department could simply drop the committee’s recommendation in the wastebasket and move on. But lawmakers on Capitol Hill are betting on a different outcome: that by publicly delineating evidence and legal arguments against Trump, they will increase public pressure on prosecutors to act.	Criminal referrals, like the ones the Jan. 6 committee approved, are not legally binding. The Justice Department could simply drop the committee’s recommendation in the wastebasket and move on. But lawmakers on Capitol Hill are betting on a different outcome: that by publicly delineating evidence and legal arguments against Trump, they will increase public pressure on prosecutors to act.
The committee recommended that the Justice Department investigate Trump allies, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani.	The committee recommended that the Justice Department investigate Trump allies, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani.
The panel also referred Kevin McCarthy and three other House Republicans to the chamber’s Ethics Committee for refusing to cooperate with the investigation.	The panel also referred Kevin McCarthy and three other House Republicans to the chamber’s Ethics Committee for refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
Read six takeaways from the hearing.	Read six takeaways from the hearing.
Trump is a diminished political figure, partly because of the evidence that the committee has laid out against him, Maggie Haberman writes.	Trump is a diminished political figure, partly because of the evidence that the committee has laid out against him, Maggie Haberman writes.
Congress is expected to soon pass a bipartisan bill meant to help prevent a repeat of the Capitol attack.	Congress is expected to soon pass a bipartisan bill meant to help prevent a repeat of the Capitol attack.
The political pressure of the committee’s referrals makes the Justice Department’s job more complicated, The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board writes.	The political pressure of the committee’s referrals makes the Justice Department’s job more complicated, The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board writes.
Lawmakers introduced a spending bill to fund the government through September, including more than $40 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine.	Lawmakers introduced a spending bill to fund the government through September, including more than $40 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine.
Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily maintained a pandemic border policy that allows the government to block migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S.	Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily maintained a pandemic border policy that allows the government to block migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S.
A House committee will vote today on whether to release six years of Trump’s tax records.	A House committee will vote today on whether to release six years of Trump’s tax records.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, agreed to be extradited to the U.S. from the Bahamas.	Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, agreed to be extradited to the U.S. from the Bahamas.
Elon Musk remained silent after Twitter users said in a survey he posted that he should step down as head of the company.	Elon Musk remained silent after Twitter users said in a survey he posted that he should step down as head of the company.
Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, agreed to pay $520 million over accusations that it collected children’s data and tricked players into purchases.	Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, agreed to pay $520 million over accusations that it collected children’s data and tricked players into purchases.
Vladimir Putin made a rare admission of Russia’s military challenges in occupied Ukrainian areas.	Vladimir Putin made a rare admission of Russia’s military challenges in occupied Ukrainian areas.
Ukraine is using drones to offer instructions to Russian soldiers who want to surrender.	Ukraine is using drones to offer instructions to Russian soldiers who want to surrender.
Pope Francis will return three pieces of the Parthenon in the Vatican Museums to Greece.	Pope Francis will return three pieces of the Parthenon in the Vatican Museums to Greece.
Chinese government officials are scrambling to manage disarray and a surge of infections as the country abandons its zero-Covid policy.	Chinese government officials are scrambling to manage disarray and a surge of infections as the country abandons its zero-Covid policy.
Britain is experiencing long waits for ambulances, part of a broader breakdown in the country’s National Health Service.	Britain is experiencing long waits for ambulances, part of a broader breakdown in the country’s National Health Service.
Harvey Weinstein was found guilty in a Los Angeles trial of raping an actress, his second sex crimes conviction.	Harvey Weinstein was found guilty in a Los Angeles trial of raping an actress, his second sex crimes conviction.
Nearly every country approved a U.N. biodiversity agreement to preserve 30 percent of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.	Nearly every country approved a U.N. biodiversity agreement to preserve 30 percent of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.
The actress Amber Heard said she had decided to settle a long-running legal dispute with her former husband, Johnny Depp, for $1 million.	The actress Amber Heard said she had decided to settle a long-running legal dispute with her former husband, Johnny Depp, for $1 million.
The departing Republican governor of Arizona spent millions to build a border wall with shipping containers, but his successor calls it a waste of money.	The departing Republican governor of Arizona spent millions to build a border wall with shipping containers, but his successor calls it a waste of money.
A secret society tied to the Underground Railroad is fighting to save its New York headquarters.	A secret society tied to the Underground Railroad is fighting to save its New York headquarters.
How threatened is American democracy? Will China invade Taiwan? Katherine Miller on the debates that defined 2022.	How threatened is American democracy? Will China invade Taiwan? Katherine Miller on the debates that defined 2022.