Former President Donald Trump should face criminal charges over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, the U.S. House of Representatives panel investigating said Monday.
The recommendation, made to the Department of Justice at the panel’s final meeting, does not guarantee Trump will face charges. But it is a historic recommendation by the bipartisan panel.
The recommended charges include aiding an insurrection, conspiracy to make a false statement for the scheme to put forward fake electors, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstructing an official proceeding. The panel also recommended lawyer John Eastman, a former visiting scholar of conservative thought and policy at the University of Colorado Boulder, face the latter two charges.
The Denver Post asked Colorado’s federal lawmakers for reaction. Below are their comments in full.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
“I’m grateful to the bipartisan committee that showed that no one is above the law — not even a former president.”
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper
Did not respond.
U.S. Diana DeGette, D-Denver
“This is an unprecedented moment for our country. Never before has Congress referred a former president to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution, but never before has a former president incited a violent insurrection to overturn the results of a legitimate election.
“The evidence presented is overwhelming. President Trump put himself above the country he swore to protect. He launched a deadly, brazen attack on the U.S. Capitol building to remain in power against the will of the people. There is no higher crime against our democracy. There is no greater betrayal of the public’s trust than what President Trump did that day.
“For the future sake of our democracy, he must be held accountable. No one in this country is above the law, not even former presidents.”
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Lafayette
“The attack on the U.S. Capitol — our citadel of liberty — on January 6th, 2021 was a devastating day for our republic. I am deeply grateful to Chairman Thompson and the members of the Select Committee for their work in investigating the terrible events of that day and former President Trump’s efforts to subvert the peaceful transfer of power. I look forward to reviewing the committee’s full report, as we must learn from what the committee has shared with the country and do everything we can to ensure that what happened on January 6th never happens again.”
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Silt
Did not respond.
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor
Did not respond.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs
Did not respond.
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Aurora
“In America nobody is above the law. Donald Trump attempted to overturn the will of the people and prevent the peaceful transition of power. It’s a crime and he should be held accountable. I look forward to the Department of Justice examining the evidence referred by the January 6th Committee and pursuing justice.”
U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Arvada
“I commend the hard work done by the Jan. 6 Select Committee, led by Chairman Thompson and Vice Chair Cheney. All of the Committee members had an incredibly difficult and tedious task to show the American people exactly what happened that terrible day and I thank them for their work. I support their findings and the action they took today.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
