The Justice Department is examining Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to US media.
Federal prosecutors have reportedly asked witnesses directly about the actions of the former US president. So far they have chosen not to open a formal criminal investigation into Mr. Trump himself over his alleged role.
The investigation is separate from the high-profile, televised Congressional hearings that have taken place over the past few weeks on the same subject, which Mr. Trump has characterized as a political witch hunt.
Witnesses were reportedly asked about instructions given by Mr. Trump in connection to any attempts to prevent President Joe Biden’s election victory from being certified by Congress.
Some of those questioned included senior members of former Vice President Mike Pence’s staff and multiple US outlets reports.
In addition to federal prosecutors, a powerful US congressional committee has also been holding its separate investigation into the armed storming of the Capitol building.
Some of the most explosive testimony delivered at the televised hearings came from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Appearing as a surprise witness during the sixth hearing, Ms. Hutchinson said Mr. Trump personally knew that members of the crowd at his morning rally near the White House were armed because they were being turned away by Secret Service officers.
“I don’t care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me,” Ms. Hutchinson said she heard the president say. “Let my people in. They can march to the Capitol from here.”
Her testimony offered the committee something they had been seeking to establish from the very beginning of proceedings – that Mr. Trump allegedly knew there was a very real threat of violence and did nothing to stop it.
Its panel of senators has suggested there might be enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Mr. Trump, but it does not itself have the power to do that.
