© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland testifies earlier than a Home Judiciary Committee listening to on the “Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice” on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Picture
By Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland on Wednesday vowed to proceed prosecuting individuals accused of storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a day after Republican Home Speaker Mike Johnson prompt he wished to defend individuals who took half within the assault.
Garland didn’t instantly criticize Johnson, however famous that the division “only prosecutes those people we believe commit crimes.”
“I am extremely proud of the men and women of the department who are working every day to hold accountable those who committed crimes on Jan. 6,” Garland mentioned at a information convention on an unrelated matter. “They will continue to do so.”
Johnson mentioned on Tuesday that Home Republicans, who’re releasing video footage from the Capitol from the day of the riot, are blurring the faces “of persons who participated in the events of that day.”
“We don’t want them to be retaliated against and to be charged by the DOJ and to have other concerns and problems,” Johnson advised reporters.
A Johnson spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The demand to launch the footage got here from hard-right lawmakers, a few of whom have downplayed the violence and unfold conspiracy theories that the riot by supporters of former President Donald Trump was orchestrated by federal brokers or informants.
Federal prosecutors have already got entry to Capitol surveillance footage, which they’ve utilized in scores of circumstances towards these accused of collaborating within the assault, a failed try to cease Congress from certifying the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election.
On-line sleuths have additionally combed publicly out there footage of the assault, and in some circumstances have recognized suspects to authorities.
The Justice Division has charged greater than 1,200 individuals with collaborating within the riot and greater than 900 have both pleaded responsible or been convicted following a trial, together with dozens who assaulted law enforcement officials.
