On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. of New Jersey praised the work of the January 6 Select Committee and its recommendation that former President Donald Trump be prosecuted for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and fomenting an insurrection against the United States. Pascrell, a member of the Democratic Party, was the first member of Congress to call for Trump’s prosecution and has consistently called for it since.
Pascrell stated, “There is no question that Donald Trump perpetrated grave crimes against the United States. Donald Trump deliberately and with malice fomented and unleashed an armed mob to decapitate our government and overthrow our democracy.” He went on to emphasize the importance of holding Trump accountable for his actions, stating that failing to do so would only encourage further lawbreaking and push the country down the road towards authoritarian rule.
Pascrell praised the committee, led by Chairman Bennie Thompson, for their diligent and thorough work in investigating the events of January 6, which saw a mob of Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Pascrell called on the Justice Department to take up the committee’s recommendation and pursue justice in this matter.
In addition to calling for Trump’s prosecution, Pascrell also invoked Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits seditionists from holding public office, in December 2020. At that time, he urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to refuse to seat 126 House Republicans who supported a lawsuit attempting to overturn the election.