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Donald Trump in an appearance on July 23
Photo Credit: IMAGO/Jefferee Woo / IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
More and more revelations by the committee of inquiry into the attack on the US Capitol a year and a half ago had recently increased the pressure on the Justice Department.
Because only from there – and not from the committee itself – can legal action be taken against those responsible.
According to the Washington Post, there is increasing evidence that the ministry is investigating the behavior of then-President Donald Trump more closely.
The question is whether Attorney General Merrick Garland could take criminal action against Trump.
Critics accuse him of being too hesitant to proceed.
The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported Tuesday evening (local time) that prosecutors spent hours questioning witnesses before a grand jury about meetings Trump chaired in December 2020 and January 2021.
A grand jury is called in to review evidence in possible crime cases and decide whether to press charges.
It had previously been assumed that these investigations were primarily related to Trump allies such as Rudy Giuliani, the newspaper continued.
But prosecutors are obviously more interested in Trump's actions than expected.
In addition, Justice Department investigators received phone records from key Trump administration officials as early as April, the newspaper wrote.
The Department has not yet launched an official criminal investigation into Republican Trump over the events surrounding the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
More and more serious allegations against Trump
Trump had been heavily incriminated by numerous witnesses at public hearings by the Capitol attack committee in recent weeks.
"We intend to hold accountable anyone found criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6 or for any attempt to obstruct the lawful transfer of power from one government to another," Attorney General Garland said Broadcaster NBC on the question of whether investigations against Trump are in the room.
The ex-president used his first return to Washington since leaving office a year and a half ago to hint again at a possible candidacy.
Trump said on Tuesday in a speech before the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute that he won his first presidential candidacy in 2016 and did "much better" in his second candidacy in 2020.
The well-known fairy tale of the witch hunt
"We might just have to do it again," added the 76-year-old Republican.
"We have to put our country back in order." In the "coming weeks and months" he wants to present "many more details".
The ex-head of state, who is still very popular with the conservative base, has repeatedly hinted that he could run again in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump also used his speech to the America First Policy Institute to attack the parliamentary inquiry into the storming of the Capitol – and once again described himself as a victim of political persecution.
"They really want to hurt me so I can't work for you guys again," Trump said.
"And I don't think that will happen."
Trump was defeated by his challenger Biden in the November 2020 presidential election.
He then launched an unprecedented campaign to stay in power, including spreading false allegations of alleged electoral fraud.
Finally, on January 6, 2021, radical Trump supporters stormed Congress just as Biden's victory was about to be officially confirmed.
The storming of the Capitol with five dead and around 140 injured police officers caused horror around the world.
jok/dpa
