"Will Trump Be Indicted? One Year After the U.S. Capitol Riot, Accountability at Any Level"

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is speaking on the January 6 Capitol riot during a speech on the 5th (local time).
[Photo by AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "The measures taken so far are not the end. Responsibility will be held at any level." It has already been a year since the January 6 Capitol riot, recorded as a stain on American democracy, but the punishment and investigation of the participants are still ongoing. The Joe Biden administration has clearly stated its intention to hold those responsible accountable according to the law until the end.

On the 5th (local time), Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General, defined the January 6 Capitol riot last year as "an attack on democracy" during a speech and announced that more than 725 people have been indicted so far. He warned, "We will hold the instigators of the January 6 incident accountable under the law at every level and every stage." He also implied that all involved will be punished, even if they were not physically present at the Capitol at the time.

The January 6 Capitol riot occurred when supporters of former President Donald Trump, rejecting the results of the 2020 presidential election, stormed the Capitol, attacked police officers, and caused chaos. At that time, Congress was in the process of certifying President Biden's election victory.

In particular, Garland's remarks came amid increasing political pressure to indict former President Trump and his aides, drawing more attention. Trump is accused of inciting the riot by urging thousands of protesters to "fight like hell" in a speech before they headed to the Capitol.

Among the 725 people indicted by the Department of Justice so far, 325 face felony charges. Garland stated, "Investigators have issued 5,000 subpoenas, seized 2,000 devices, reviewed 20,000 hours of video footage, and searched 15 terabytes of data," emphasizing, "The measures taken so far are not the end." The New York Times (NYT) reported, "About 2,500 people who stormed the Capitol could be charged with federal crimes," including "around 1,000 assault cases."

President Biden is also expected to criticize the riot as a threat to American democracy in a speech scheduled for the 6th. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing that "the President will speak about the truth of what happened on January 6, instead of the lies spread by some, and the danger it posed to the rule of law and our democratic governance system," adding, "He believes January 6 was the tragic climax of the four years of the Trump presidency."

The special committee led by the Democratic Party is also expected to intensify its offensive. There is a possibility that criminal charges will be requested against former President Trump and his close aides.

Currently, the committee is reportedly facing difficulties in uncovering the truth as high-ranking Trump administration officials such as former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon refuse to testify. The Washington Post (WP) reported, "The committee's activities will be conducted more openly this year," and "the committee is expected to release its final report before the midterm elections in November."