January 6 panel to focus on Trump’s relentless pressure on justice department

The ex-president pushed the department to more aggressively investigate debunked claims of fraud with threats

Donald Trump pressured top justice department officials to falsely declare that the 2020 election was corrupt and launch investigations into discredited claims of fraud as part of an effort to return him to office, the House January 6 select committee will say on Thursday.

The panel investigating the Capitol attack is expected at its fifth hearing to focus on how Trump abused the power of the presidency to twist the justice department into endorsing false election claims - and potentially how the Republican congressman Scott Perry sought a pardon for his involvement.