Several committees of the US House of Representatives at once initiated proceedings regarding the riots in the Capitol that occurred on January 6.

This is stated in a joint letter from the heads of the committees addressed to law enforcement agencies.

“The House of Representatives Standing Ad Hoc Committee on Intelligence, the House Homeland Security, Judicial Affairs, and Oversight and Reform Committees (hereinafter collectively referred to as 'committees'), acting within their legislative and oversight powers, study the January 6 events and related with them, threats to a peaceful transfer of power in the country, ”says the document sent to the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

It also notes that the committees will exercise “strict oversight” to determine which “red flags” may have been missed, whether “systemic failures” have occurred, and to consider “how best to deal with internal violent extremism, including addressing any gaps in legislation or policy ”.

“The American people continue to learn disturbing details about the horrific rioting that took place on January 6 in and around the US Capitol.

Information in the public domain (about these events -

RT

) continues to accumulate, but it is far from complete, "the congressmen write.

The document also says that as a first step in the proceedings, the committees are asking law enforcement agencies to prepare "documents and schedule briefings on specific intelligence issues related to the riots and threats to the inauguration of the US president."

In addition, the committees intend to examine “which elements of the intelligence community and federal law enforcement agencies were aware of the threat of violence,” whether this information was communicated to other officers and, if so, how.

Congressmen also want to know if there has been a suspension, delay or denial of any data.

They also plan to find out if the riots were "in any way related to foreign influence or disinformation efforts, and to what extent foreign powers were keen to take advantage of the crisis and exacerbate it."

  • Riots in Washington

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  • © Shannon Stapleton

In addition, the proceedings will relate to the possible participation in the incident of persons "who previously had or are now having access to state secrets and / or positions in the national security organs of justice, defense or US internal security."

In addition, the committees will explore possible policy responses and other actions to respond to the unrest.

Not the only trial

It is worth noting that the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies are already conducting an investigation into the January 6 events in Washington.

As previously clarified by the deputy head of the regional office of the FBI in Washington Stephen D'Antuono during a telephone press conference, "the identity of more than 270 suspects involved in criminal activities on the territory of the Capitol and in its vicinity have been identified."

He also noted that over a hundred people were detained.

“If we compare this investigation with American football, we are still in the first quarter of the match,” said D'Antuono.

On January 15, Acting District of Columbia Attorney Michael Sherwin said that at present, US law enforcement officials have no direct evidence of the presence of groups for the assassination or capture of lawmakers during the storming of the Capitol.

At the same time, earlier federal prosecutors argued that the participants in the riots in the Capitol intended to capture and kill congressmen.

However, later the prosecution abandoned this interpretation of events.

As Shervin explained, due to the high complexity of the investigation and the large number of defendants, there could probably be a misunderstanding between the prosecutors.

It is noteworthy that, according to The Washington Post, in the US capital, law enforcement officers released from custody a man who had previously been detained with a weapon near the Capitol building.

Subsequently, he stated that his arrest was a mistake, and clarified that the last week he worked in the US capital in a private security.

The man also denied information that he allegedly had five hundred cartridges with him.

Earlier, US media reported that the Capitol police detained a man with a weapon who was trying to enter the protected area.

We will remind, on January 6, when Congress was supposed to approve the results of the electoral college vote and thereby draw a line under the presidential campaign, Trump supporters staged a rally in Washington against the approval of the victory of Democrat Joe Biden.

Prior to this, the incumbent head of the White House had repeatedly invited his associates to this action, and on the day of its holding he made a speech in which he once again called the election results falsified.

Later, the demonstration escalated into the storming of the Capitol, where Congressmen sat.

As a result of the incident, five people died, more than 50 law enforcement officers were injured.

After that, the Democrats again began to insist on the impeachment of Trump.

Thus, Biden said that the participants in the storming of the Capitol should be treated like "internal terrorists".

He also blamed Trump for what happened, accusing him of knowingly encouraging the unrest.

  • US President Donald Trump

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  • © Carlos Barria

It is worth noting that the majority of congressmen have already voted to remove the president from power under the article "incitement to rebellion."

The corresponding resolution was also approved.

However, Republican Majority Leader in the Upper House, Mitch McConnell, said the Senators would not issue an impeachment verdict until Biden's inauguration.

Now in the American capital there is an emergency situation, security measures have been strengthened.

According to the press service of the US National Guard, the Pentagon is ready to provide up to 25 thousand troops to ensure the necessary level of security on the day of the inauguration.

"Intimidate Trump Supporters"

According to Konstantin Blokhin, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, initiating a new trial, the traditional establishment is trying to maintain its position and eliminate political competitors.

“This is done in order to stifle such a phenomenon as Trumpism, which is ingrained in the Republican Party.

Trump is a counter-elite and became a symbol of free speech after his Twitter account was permanently blocked.

Now the goal of Trump's opponents, including Democrats in the lower house, is to intimidate the supporters of the current head of the White House and prevent the emergence of new political leaders who would share Trump's views on the country's development, "Blokhin explained in a conversation with RT.

Another reason why the House of Representatives intends to conduct its election is the desire to distract the American public from the split within the country, believes Konstantin Blokhin.

“It is not for nothing that the congressmen mention in the letter about possible connections of the events of January 6 with“ foreign influence or efforts to spread disinformation ”.

They want to shift the attention of the population from problems within the country to the desire of other powers to "take advantage of the crisis and aggravate it."

This can also be mixed with fakes that Russia and China allegedly manipulate public opinion through social networks, ”the analyst believes.

In turn, Valery Garbuzov, Director of the Institute of the USA and Canada, noted in an interview with RT that the investigation initiated by the relevant committees of the US House of Representatives could take a lot of time.

“Now there is a stage connected with the collection of documents and materials.

Then there will be hearings to which people will be invited at the request of a committee.

This is a rather lengthy procedure, it can take several months, or maybe a year, ”the expert said.

He admitted that, based on the results of the investigation initiated by the Congressmen, a case could be initiated against Trump.

“In this case, his life is likely to be significantly complicated.

Hatred of his opponents towards Trump has intensified since the events in the Capitol.

After leaving office, he will lose his presidential immunity, which will be used by the courts.

If he is impeached even after his resignation, he will lose all his remaining privileges: security, pension and further on the list, ”Garbuzov said.

According to Konstantin Blokhin, Trump's opponents, trying to discredit him, "only write him down in history."

"How can they forget the president, whom they tried to deprive of power twice," he explained.

  • Capitol

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  • © Stephanie Keith

At the same time, experts agree that all manifestations of activity by Trump's supporters will be suppressed by the National Guard before, during and after Biden's inauguration.

“The traditional political establishment of the United States is extremely interested in this, it will not allow power to go away from it in any way.

Fights are likely to take place, but they will be quickly and harshly liquidated, "Blokhin said.

Garbuzov, in turn, stressed that the upcoming inauguration of Biden will be completely different from that of other US presidents.

“Usually supporters of opposing political forces gather at such an event.

This time it won't be.

Thousands of National Guardsmen will obviously be stationed in Pennsylvania, and there will be a cordon around Congress and the White House as well.

The inauguration is a kind of celebration for Americans, since it is usually followed by fireworks, parades and balls.

But this time everything will be done in a truncated format, ”the expert concluded.