There is a lot of evidence presented by the House Select Committee about Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Over the course of six weeks, a number of witnesses have given bombshell testimony that has gripped the nation and set Trump on edge.
Accountability for the insurrection, a reinforcement of the country's commitment to democracy, and the creation of a vital historical record are some of the purposes of the committee's investigation.
The average American is not concerned with the legacy of DC and may be wondering if Trump could be charged with a crime.
It's a difficult question and experts are mixed on it.
The panel hasn't decided if it will issue a criminal referral to the DOJ. The act serves as a symbolic measure to let the agency know that criminal conduct may have been uncovered during the investigation. The panel could potentially make multiple criminal referrals, including one against Trump, according to the vice-chair of the committee.
Matthew Schmidt, an associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven, told Insider that he doesn't think Trump will face legal consequences.
He said that the legal standard to be able to convict him is too high. The risk of convicting a former president is too high.
Trump's teasing at a presidential run adds to the possibilities of charges. According to a Rolling Stone report published earlier this month, the former president told his allies that part of the draw of holding the nation's top seat again was the legal immunity it provided.
Trump running again precludes any prosecution.
An associate professor of the practice at Duke University's public policy school has a different opinion.
It would be shocking for the Department of Justice to not act on the Committee's evidence of Trump's criminal liability. It remains to be seen if Attorney General Garland will allow the Department of Justice to pursue criminal charges against a former President.
Some Americans think the former president should be charged with a crime for his role in the attack. About 50% of people think that Trump should face legal consequences. Only 28% of the people who responded thought that was the most likely outcome.
Robert Weisberg, a criminal law professor at Stanford University, said that Attorney General Garland will have to decide whether to charge Trump or not. Even if Garland concludes that he has a potentially winnable case, he could still not be charged.
He has the power to not prosecute even if he has a legal basis for doing so.
The Department of Justice is only one of a number of law enforcement agencies that are investigating Trump.
He said that a federal indictment would be a powerful deterrent against attempts by other elected officials to overturn the will of the voters.
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