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After 18 months of painstaking investigation, the House January 6 Committee in America has voted unanimously to recommend criminal charges against Trump.
Mmebers accused Trump of trying to disrupt the peaceful transition of power and aiding the insurrection.
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The House Committee today cited sufficient evidence to prosecute Trump for four different crimes related to January 6.
They include obstructing the peaceful transfer of power, fabricating a false statement and inciting an insurrection.
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LIZ CHENEY, January 6 Committee Vice-Chairperson:
January 6th, 2021 was the first time one American President refused his constitutional duty to transfer power peacefully to the next.
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Fierce critics of Trump also blasted him for betraying the Constitution and called the investigation a roadmap for justice.
But the recommendations are headed to the Justice Department where Jack Smith, the new special counsel, will decide on the charges.
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ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press Reporter:
But this is a moment of symbolic importance, because the House committee is signalling to the Justice Department that it believes it has amassed evidence of potential crimes by Donald Trump.
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The startling 154-page report the Committee released as part of their closing arguments called Trump's actions a "multi-part conspiracy" to overturn the election.
What's more, the Committee also implicated Trump lawyer John Eastman for devising plans that would keep Trump in power.
This, after an aggressive 18-month probe that saw over 1,000 witness interviews and the review of lengthy records.
On the opposing corner, Republicans including Trump himself cried foul.
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Voice of DONALD TRUMP, Former United States President:
We have all Democrats and Republicans in very poor standing, two of them.
The whole thing...it's a kangaroo court, what can I say?
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While Trump is planning a White House comeback, his fellow Republicans are deserting him according to one expert.
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SCOTT LUCAS, Professor of American Studies, The University of Birmingham:
Now, Trump is weakened. Trump is politically weakened with many Republicans, especially within the Republican mainstream, turning against him because frankly, he looks like a loser.
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The panel will be disbanded on January 3rd when Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives.
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