If approved, the referral will go to the Department of Justice to decide whether to indict former Commerce and Construction Director Peter Navarro and former White House Communications Officer Daniel Scavino Jr. for misdemeanors that could lead to imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to $ 100,000. During Wednesday’s debate, some Democrats noted that following Trump’s objections last year, Republicans had “pulled the plug” on an independent committee investigating the attack – leading House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (California) to form a a select committee of Parliament instead. “We were going to have an independent 9/11 committee,” said spokesman Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.). “And then you know what happened? Do you know who vetoed? The fourth branch of government, Donald Trump, to which some members refer to them as slaves. And Donald Trump said he did not want any investigation into the attack on this body, the United States Congress. “ In recent weeks, frustrations have risen within the commission over the Justice Department’s inaction on its latest criminal referral. People familiar with the matter said that the Ministry of Justice had excluded the commission officials who tried to understand the prosecutors’ views on the referrals. The ministry has not yet acted on the House vote in December backing allegations of contempt for former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. This has prevented lawmakers from trying to impose calls on members of Trump’s inner circle as the commission works to begin hearings in May. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity so that they could speak freely in private. “There is certainly frustration in the committee that we are not receiving more from the Ministry of Justice,” said one person involved in the investigation. “But there are not many ideas about what exactly we can do.” Disappointments in the commission with the Justice Department have recently erupted in public, as Attorney General Merrick Garland has not said whether he will take action against Meadows, who is considered a key witness as a former janitor and top aide to Trump. By adding references to Scavino and Navarro, lawmakers are making a bet. The move could force the Justice Department to make accusations – but if that does not work, it could also make the commission’s calls to top Trump aides virtually useless. Garland dismissed the commission’s criticism at a news conference last week, telling reporters he would not rush to investigate the Justice Department over the US Capitol attack. Asked again Wednesday about the delay in the Meadows ruling and criticism that the Justice Department’s inaction could make congressional summonses ineffective, Garland said only that prosecutors would “follow the facts and the law.” . “We are not commenting further on the investigation,” Garland said. Committee members have murmured privately and publicly about the Justice Department’s silence, expressing concern that Garland’s calm has the potential to seriously hamper their investigation. “The Department of Justice has a duty to act on this and other referrals we have sent,” said spokesman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) Last week. “Without the imposition of congressional summonses, there is no oversight, and without oversight, no responsibility – for the former president or any other president, past, present or future. “Without enforcing its legal procedure, Congress ceases to be an equal branch of government.” But political pressure could also fail as the Justice Department seeks to maintain its independence. Ruskin was one of the few lawmakers on the panel who refused to criticize Garland, telling reporters last week that he felt strongly for restoring a “tradition of respect and independence of law enforcement.” “This was one of the things that was lost during the Trump era,” Ruskin added. “So I think Congress and the president should let the Department of Justice and the attorney general do their job. “Attorney General Garland is my voter and I do not beat my voters.”
