Kinzinger thinks Justice Department will 'do the right thing' and charge Trump

Jack Birle

January 01, 12:44 PM January 01, 12:44 PM

Outgoing Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) believes former President Donald Trump will be criminally charged by the Justice Department for his role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

Kinzinger, who served as one of two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee, shared his belief that Trump acted criminally on CNN's State of the Union Sunday.

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"As we've gotten into this, I look, and I'm like if this is not a crime, I don't know what is. If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, then really there's no limit to what a president can and can't do," Kinzinger said.

The committee sent four criminal referrals to the DOJ regarding Trump last month, with all nine committee members unanimously voting for all four referrals.

"I think the Justice Department will do the right thing. I think he will be charged, and I frankly think he should be," Kinzinger said.

He also shared that he personally believes Trump should be charged and convicted of the crimes referred to by the committee.

"If he is not guilty of a crime, I frankly fear for the future of this country," Kinzinger said.

Jan. 6 committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) has also said he is "convinced" that the Department of Justice will charge Trump. The DOJ has moved its investigation of Trump to a special counsel after he announced a run for president in 2024.

Last week the Jan. 6 committee withdrew its subpoena of Trump as the investigation was completed, and the select committee will be dissolved by the next Congress.