The Justice Department on Friday backed off bringing potential charges against President Trump for allegedly inciting Wednesday’s Capitol chaos — a day after saying such prosecution was possible.
“Don’t expect any charges of that nature,’’ Ken Kohl, acting assistant US attorney, said when asked about the possibility, according to the New York Times.
A Justice Department spokesman later added to CNBC, “Our focus is on the events at the Capitol.
“As of now, we have not charged anyone with incitement or insurrection. This is an extremely complex and ongoing investigation, and we will continue to follow the facts and the law.”
A day earlier, Michael Sherwin, acting US attorney for DC, left open the possibility of prosecuting Trump when asked point-blank whether the president could be charged over his alleged incendiary comments.
“We’re looking at all actors here, and anyone that had a role and the evidence fits the elements of a crime, they’re going to be charged,” Sherwin said.
Before the march that ended in chaos and the storming of the Capitol building Wednesday, Trump told his supporters to “fight like hell’’ and march on Congress.
Five peopled died amid the mayhem, including a Capitol Police cop.