Things aren't getting any easier for Donald Trump.
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol delivered its final – and perhaps most damaging – blow to the former president on Monday when it referred him to the Justice Department for potential prosecution for four alleged crimes: inciting an insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement and obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress.
The criminal referrals mark one of the committee's final acts before Republicans officially seize control of the House next month. And while they don't carry any legal weight, the referrals could haunt Trump as he begins his comeback bid for the White House.
It's a less-than-ideal position for any presidential contender to be in, but especially Trump, who, in addition to confronting other legal threats, is facing questions about his influence within the GOP and whether he should remain the party's standard bearer moving forward.
Many Republicans still blame the former president for the party's lackluster performance in last month's midterm elections, which saw the GOP only narrowly regain their House majority and blow an opportunity to flip control of the Senate.
There also appears to be little appetite to defend Trump against the Jan. 6 committee's accusations, at least among some party leaders. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Monday that the committee interviewed "some credible witnesses" and noted that what happens next will be up to the Justice Department. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was more blunt in his assessment of the committee's decision to accuse Trump of criminal wrongdoing.
"The entire nation knows who is responsible for that day," he told reporters.
Response from Trump's camp: Of course, Trump still commands the support of a loyal conservative voter base, and many polls still show him as the favorite to clinch the GOP's 2024 presidential nod. Trump's allies cast the criminal referrals as nothing more than an attempt by Democrats to punish the former president after losing their House majority in November.
"The sham unselect committee has adjourned today, not because the investigation reached any valid legal conclusion, but because Democrats were voted out of power by the American people. Thankfully, this marks the end of the reign of Pelosi and the Democrats – good riddance!" tweeted Taylor Budowich, head of MAGA Inc., a Trump-aligned super PAC.
Nevertheless, the Jan. 6 committee's criminal referrals raise further questions about Trump's political future at a time when he's facing a growing number of challenges to his dominance in the GOP.
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