US Attorney General Merrick Garland has left open the possibility that former President Donald Trump could be prosecuted for inciting the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
In an interview Tuesday with NBC News, he told Lester Holt, “Look, we seek justice without fear or favoritism” when asked if impeaching a former president would “arguably tear the country apart.” “We intend to prosecute anyone who is criminally responsible for the events surrounding January 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another,” Garland continued. “That’s what we do”.
“So if Donald Trump were to run for president again, would that change his agenda?” Holt asked. “I will say again that we will prosecute anyone who is criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the transfer, the legitimate and lawful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” Garland responded.
Garland’s comments came as the Justice Department has faced mounting pressure to act following weeks of testimony before the House Committee by former Trump administration officials alleging that the then-president incited the Capitol raiders and that even he ignored the pleas of his own people to stop them and send them home.
