Biden: I hope those who refuse to testify in the events of January 6 will be prosecuted and held accountable
US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the Justice Department should prosecute people summoned by a congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill but who refused to testify.
"I hope the committee will pursue them and hold them accountable," Biden added, when asked by White House reporters about those who reject subpoenas issued by the committee investigating the riots in the US House of Representatives.
Asked if he thought the Justice Department should prosecute those who refuse subpoenas, Biden said: "Yes."
The committee said Thursday that it would hold a meeting on Tuesday to vote on the passage of a contempt report against Steve Bannon, a veteran adviser to former President Donald Trump, saying Bannon refused to cooperate with its investigation.
Trump has urged his former aides to refuse to cooperate.
If the committee agrees to charge Bannon with contempt, the matter will be referred to the House of Representatives for a vote.
From there, the Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick Garland will decide whether to proceed with the trial.
In response to Biden's comments on Friday, a Department of Justice spokesperson told ABC News that the department "will make its independent decisions in all trials based solely on facts and law."
Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in a failed attempt to reverse his electoral defeat against Biden.
Four people died in the violence and more than 100 policemen were injured.
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