A New York Times report on Friday revealed what President Joe Biden has privately told those close to him what he would like to see happen to the man he succeeded.
The paper said that Biden has confided in associates that he hopes to see Trump prosecuted over allegations that he was responsible for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol Building in 2021.
“The leak was published in the on Saturday as Democrats mount increasing pressure on the Justice Department to take action against Trump and people within his orbit in relation to the Capitol riot,” the Washington Examiner reported, citing the Times.
“At focus are Attorney General Merrick Garland and his ‘deliberative approach,’ as the report put it, which is causing frustration,” the Examiner continued.
“As recently as late last year, Mr. Biden confided to his inner circle that he believed former President Donald J. Trump was a threat to democracy and should be prosecuted, according to two people familiar with his comments,” the Times report read.
“And while the president has never communicated his frustrations directly to Mr. Garland, he has said privately that he wanted Mr. Garland to act less like a ponderous judge and more like a prosecutor who is willing to take decisive action over the events of Jan. 6,” the Times continued.
The Examiner continued:
Just what Trump would be prosecuted for is unclear. However, the House committee investigating the Capitol riot says its investigators have reason to believe Trump and his associates broke multiple laws in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In a recent court filing for John Eastman, a Trump-linked conservative lawyer, the panel said it has evidence to show Trump may have engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States and illegally impede Congress’s counting of electoral votes.
The House committee investigating the riot can only make criminal referrals, so the onus to prosecute Trump would fall to the Justice Department.
Democrats have ramped up a public pressure campaign on Garland to file charges against the former president.
“We are upholding our responsibility. The Department of Justice must do the same,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, a member of the Jan. 6 committee.
“Attorney General Garland, do your job so we can do ours,” said Rep. Elaine Luria, another member of the panel, according to Politico.
During a press conference on Friday, Garland addressed the pressure campaign.
“The only pressure I feel, and the only pressure that our line prosecutors feel, is to do the right thing,” . “That means we follow the facts and the law, wherever they may lead.”