The Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, who had previously criticized ex-President Trump for instigating the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, declined to comment on Wednesday about whether Trump should face legal consequences for these actions.
When asked about the potential for Trump’s prosecution, McConnell clarified that he has no intention of analyzing or critiquing potential Republican presidential candidates.
McConnell regularly expresses his unwillingness to pass judgment on those seeking the presidency, stating, “My opinions were clear at the time, but I’m not about to delve into an analysis of potential presidential candidates,” when asked if it would be appropriate for the Justice Department to pursue charges against Trump relating to attempts to halt Congress’s validation of President Biden’s 2020 election win.
On Tuesday, Trump disclosed that a letter from Special Counsel Jack Smith informed him that he is under grand jury investigation concerning the events of January 6.
According to media reports, the letter specified three potential charges against Trump, including deprivation of rights, conspiracy to commit a crime against or defraud the U.S., and witness tampering.
In February 2021, following Trump’s second impeachment trial, McConnell publicly criticized Trump on the Senate floor for inciting a crowd of supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol and breach its security in order to impede the validation of the 2020 election results.
McConnell asserted, “President Trump bears a significant amount of both practical and moral culpability for the events of that day. Those who attacked this building did so under the belief that they were following the directives of their president.”
Data compiled by National Public Radio shows that more than 1,060 individuals have been charged by federal prosecutors for their involvement in the January 6 events, with over 600 people having entered guilty pleas.
Out of these, more than 80 individuals have been found guilty on all charges, while only two have been fully acquitted.
Republican Senate Whip John Thune of South Dakota suggested on Tuesday that being “practically and morally responsible” did not necessarily translate into grounds for legal charges, stating that prosecutors must strictly adhere to the law and the specifics of the case.
“Practical and moral responsibility is distinct from legal responsibility. The Justice Department must evaluate the law and the facts they’ve gathered from interviews and then decide whether laws have been violated,” he commented.
