'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger': Trump responds to Jan. 6 committee's criminal referrals



Former President Donald Trump responded on Monday after the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot announced criminal referrals.

While the panel is recommending that the Justice Department go after Trump, the DOJ is not required to follow the congressional panel's recommendations.

\u201cThe fourth and final statute we invoke for referral is Title 18 Section 2383. This statute applies to anyone, who incites, assists, or engages in insurrection against the United States, and anyone who \u201cgives aid or comfort\u201d to an insurrection.\u201d
— January 6th Committee (@January 6th Committee) 1671476863

"These folks don’t get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. Americans know that I pushed for 20,000 troops to prevent violence on Jan 6, and that I went on television and told everyone to go home…." Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The Jan. 6 committee included various Democrats and two GOP lawmakers who have been outspoken Trump critics — those two Republicans, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Liz Cheney of Wyoming, both voted to impeach Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot.

While the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, episode, Trump was ultimately acquitted when 57 senators voted to convict, a number that fell short of the threshold necessary for conviction — the Senate vote occurred after Trump had already departed from office.

Trump, who served as president from early 2017 through early 2021, lost his 2020 reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden — the former president announced last month that he will seek the presidency again during the 2024 election cycle.

While Trump remains quite popular among conservatives, he could end up facing challengers during the GOP presidential primary.

A group of House Democrats is backing legislation meant to bar Trump from ever holding office again.

Jan. 6 committee will reportedly vote on whether to recommend criminal charges against Trump



The House select committee probing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot could potentially urge the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. The Associated Press, citing an unnamed individual acquainted with the issue, reported that the panel is mulling recommending charges of insurrection, obstructing an official proceeding, and conspiracy to defraud the U.S.

Politico reported that the body is gearing up to vote on whether to call upon the DOJ to target Trump with at least three criminal charges — the outlet, citing two unnamed sources, indicated that the report the panel is anticipated to weigh on Monday reflects some suggestions from a subcommittee that considered possible criminal referrals. Politico indicated that the subcommittee's recommended charges include insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to defraud the government.

The New York Times noted that any referrals against Trump from the committee would not bear any legal authority or obligate the DOJ to pursue any actions.

"The January 6th un-Select Committee held show trials by Never Trump partisans who are a stain on this country's history," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung noted in a statement," according to the Politico. "This Kangaroo court has been nothing more than a Hollywood executive’s vanity documentary project that insults Americans’ intelligence and makes a mockery of our democracy."

Trump, who lost his 2020 reelection bid to Democratic challenger Joe Biden, announced last month that he is running for president again during the 2024 cycle.

A group of House Democrats is pushing legislation to block Trump from ever holding office again.

"The 14th Amendment makes clear that based on his past behavior, Donald Trump is disqualified from ever holding federal office again and, under Section 5, Congress has the power to pass legislation to implement this prohibition," Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island said, according to a press release about the legislation.