Pelosi: Any GOP lawmakers who 'aided and abetted' Capitol rioters should be prosecuted

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Republican members of Congress may face criminal prosecution if they assisted rioters in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Several House Democrats have suggested their GOP colleagues may have aided Capitol rioters by providing them with tours of the U. S. Capitol on Jan. 5. Pelosi said the role Republican members may have played in the insurrection "will be looked into" to determine whether they respected their oath of office or even broke the law.

"If, in fact, it is found that members of Congress were accomplices to this insurrection -- if they aided and abetted the crime, there may have to be actions taken beyond the Congress in terms of prosecution for that," Pelosi said Friday at a news conference at the Capitol.

Pelosi's comments came two days after the House voted to impeach President Trump for "incitement of insurrection" after a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 in a failed attempt to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win.

Five people died, including Capitol Police Office Brian D. Sicknick, 42, who was reportedly hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during a struggle with rioters.

The House voted 232-197 to impeach the president. Ten Republicans joined with Democrats.

Pelosi declined to say when she will send over the article of impeachment to the Senate, which will spark a trial and slow down the Senate's work of confirming Biden's Cabinet nominations. But her nine impeachment managers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., are preparing now to make the case for Trump's conviction, she said.

"Right now, our managers are solemnly and prayerfully preparing for the trial, which they will take to the Senate," Pelosi said.

Pelosi said the House is conducting oversight of the attack in committees and said there is "strong interest" in forming a 9/11-style independent commission. In the meantime, Pelosi has asked retired Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré to lead an immediate review of Capitol security.

The attack at the Capitol included rioters waving a Confederate flag and wearing a "Camp Auschwitz" shirt. Pelosi said the "disgusting" image of the Nazi glorification was... (Read more)

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