January 6 committee considers criminal charges against Donald Trump, reports say

Panel member says there is 'sufficient evidence' to charge the former president

'There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.' Congresswoman and January 6 committee vice chairwoman Liz Cheney to Republican colleagues who have defended Mr Trump's claims of election fraud. AFP

'January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup - a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6 - to overthrow the government.' Committee chairman Bennie Thompson. EPA

Mr Trump 'was willing to sacrifice our republic to prolong his presidency. I can imagine no more dishonourable acts by a president.' Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. AFP

Donald Trump had this 'arsenal of allegations. I went through them piece by piece to say, no, they were not true'. Former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue. EPA

'There were no votes to find.' Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after Donald Trump asked him and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling, to 'find 11,780' votes that could flip Georgia in the president's favour. AFP

Competing against Donald Trump’s lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'. Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State chief operating officer. AFP

'As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.' Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaking about the insurrection. AFP

'I told him [Donald Trump] that the stuff his people were shovelling out to the public was bull***t.' Former attorney general William Barr. AP

'I respect attorney general Barr. So, I accepted what he was saying.' Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser. AP

'We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more.' Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Reuters

A Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It' and shows a military-style rifle flies as rioters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2001. Reuters

A Trump supporter sprays smoke. Reuters

Police attempt to push the mob back. AFP

The pro-Trump mob swarms the Capitol as police release tear gas. Reuters

Protesters clash with police. Reuters

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the US Capitol. Reuters

A police flash-bang blast lights up the Capitol. Reuters

Before the insurrection, Mr Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Reuters

People march with those who say they are members of the Proud Boys as they attend a rally in Washington in support of former president Donald Trump. AP

The January 6 committee will consider a vote on charges against former president Donald Trump — including insurrection — when it holds what could be its final meeting on Monday, US media reported.

The committee will vote to recommend that Mr Trump be prosecuted for obstructing a government proceeding and conspiracy to commit fraud against the US, Politico first reported.

Adam Schiff, a US Representative who serves on the committee, told CNN on Sunday that there is “sufficient evidence” to charge the former president.

“I think that the evidence is there that Donald Trump committed criminal offences in connection with his efforts to overturn the [2020 presidential] election,” Mr Schiff said on State of the Union.

Mr Schiff did not confirm which charges the committee would refer to the Justice Department, but he did confirm that the panel would vote on the referrals and its overall report on Monday.

No one in connection to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol has been charged with insurrection.

“I realise that statute hasn't been used a long time, but then when have we had a president essentially incite and attack in his own government?” Mr Schiff said.

“I don't want to telegraph too much what we're considering but … I will say that I think the president has violated multiple criminal laws, and I think you have to be treated like any other American who breaks the law.”

Mr Trump responded on Truth Social by repeating his familiar refrain of calling the committee a hoax and denounced them for not investigating his fraud claims.

Mr Trump was impeached on the incitement of insurrection last year after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol while elected officials were certifying the election results.

The Senate fell nine votes short — 57 to 43 — of the two-thirds needed to convict him.

The committee is also considering referring some members of the House of Representatives who were involved with the insurrection, Bloomberg reported.

The Justice Department is not compelled to consider Congressional referrals, meaning any made by the committee on Monday will mainly be symbolic.