\u201cLet me say that what we have been able to ascertain is that we came perilously close to losing our democracy as we have come to learn it,\u201d Mr. Thompson said on CNN Sunday, adding later: \u201cOur hearings will determine whether or not what occurred on January 6. was a comedy of errors or a planned effort on the part of certain individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we just run out with a story we can\u2019t defend, we will get to what we believe is the truth, and that\u2019s the charge that we have as a committee,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think that there are a number\u2026of potential criminal statutes at issue here. But I think there\u2019s absolutely no question that it was a dereliction of duty,\u2019 Ms. Cheney said.<\/h4>\n
Mr. Thompson also said Sunday that the committee won\u2019t rule out making a referral of criminal charges to the Justice Department related to former President<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s<\/p>\n role in the Capitol attack. \u201cIf in the course of our review we find something that we think warrants review or recommendation to [the Justice Department], we\u2019ll do it. We\u2019re not looking for it, but if we find it, we\u2019ll absolutely make the referral,\u201d he said on ABC.<\/p>\n Rep.<\/p>\n Liz Cheney<\/p>\n (R., Wyo.), one of two GOP members of the panel, said that short of criminal referral the committee would look at legislative changes.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that there are a number, as the chairman said, of potential criminal statutes at issue here. But I think there\u2019s absolutely no question that it was a dereliction of duty,\u201d said Ms. Cheney, one of a few Republicans who is a regular outspoken critic of Mr. Trump\u2019s. \u201cI think one of the things the committee needs to look at as we\u2019re looking at a legislative purpose is whether we need enhanced penalties for that dereliction of duty.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Thompson also left open the possibility of issuing subpoenas for the cooperation of two GOP lawmakers, Reps.<\/p>\n Scott Perry<\/p>\n of Pennsylvania and<\/p>\n Jim Jordan<\/p>\n of Ohio, with whom the committee previously asked to speak regarding Jan. 6. \u201cWe have asked them to come in voluntarily. Now, we will look at whatever opportunities we can to get those people to come in,\u201d he said. Asked if that would include a subpoena, he responded: \u201cWe will look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Representatives for Messrs. Perry and Jordan didn\u2019t immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n The committee\u2019s probe has intensified, with the House voting to hold former White House chief of staff<\/p>\n Mark Meadows<\/p>\n in contempt of Congress<\/a> after he declined to comply with a subpoena to testify in front of the panel. Now, the Justice Department must decide whether it will bring charges against him.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s communication between some of those members [of Congress] and the White House, especially asking\u2026chief of staff Meadows to get the president to call off this riot or insurrection. So there\u2019s some involvement. We just want to make sure we get to the bottom of it,\u201d Mr. Thompson said on ABC.<\/p>\n Mr. Meadows didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n The lawmakers\u2019 comments came days before the first anniversary of the attack, when a mob of Mr. Trump\u2019s supporters swarmed into the Capitol <\/a>as Congress was meeting to certify the results of the 2020 election.<\/p>\n That day, Mr. Trump addressed a noontime crowd at a \u201cStop the Steal\u201d rally at the Ellipse and encouraged supporters to march to the Capitol<\/a>. Hundreds then clashed with police, severely injuring several officers. One intruder was shot dead by a Capitol police officer, who was later cleared of wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Highlighting the country\u2019s deepening polarization, Americans are divided<\/a> over the seriousness of the incident, who is to blame and the punishments that have been imposed.<\/p>\n A recent Quinnipiac poll<\/a> found that 93% of Democrats and 56% of independents considered it an attack on the government, while only 29% of Republicans said the same. A Pew Research Center poll showed a declining share of Republicans<\/a> who believe it is important that rioters be prosecuted, with 57% expressing support in September, down from 79% in March.<\/p>\n \u201cFrankly, it\u2019s crazy that that many people believe that\u2014things that just simply aren\u2019t true,\u201d Maryland Gov.<\/p>\n Larry Hogan,<\/p>\n a Republican, said on CNN. \u201cTo think that the violent protesters who attacked the Capitol, our seat of democracy, on Jan. 6 was just tourists looking at statues, it\u2019s insane that anyone could watch that on television and believe that\u2019s what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Copyright \u00a92021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8<\/p>\n
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The House voted to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he declined to comply with a subpoena.<\/h4>\n
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\n Patrick Semansky\/Associated Press
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