House January 6 panel to issue criminal referrals to DoJ as tensions heighten

Targets and details of referrals in investigation of Capitol attack were not immediately clear but could follow two tracks

The House January 6 select committee will make criminal referrals to the US justice department in connection with its investigation into the Capitol attack, the chairman of the panel said Tuesday, heightening tensions ahead of the release of its final report expected to come later this month.

The targets and details about the referrals were not immediately clear, and the panel's chairman Bennie Thompson affirmed to reporters only that the panel would issue citations.

But the decision to move forward with referrals comes days after a special four-member subcommittee established to consider the issue recommended that the full committee seek prosecution from the justice department for a number of individuals connected to January 6, two sources said.

The referrals could follow two tracks: citations for things that Congress can request prosecution by statute, such as perjury or witness tampering, or wider-ranging recommendations such as making the case that Donald Trump obstructed an official proceeding on 6 January.