In the ongoing examination of last year's Jan. 6 insurrection, a federal judge has stated that based on the evidence reviewed so far, former President Donald Trump may have been criminally involved, according to reporting by CNN.
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"Based on the evidence, the Court finds it more likely than not that President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021," said Judge David Carter according to the outlet.
This declaration means that Trump's efforts in fighting back against the election results might have verged on criminal, according to the outlet.
Carter's statement is based on evidence gleaned from more than 100 emails obtained from conservative attorney John Eastman related to Jan. 6. The messages showed intent to have some states' elector votes rejected at a meeting that day, as reported by the outlet.
"The illegality of the plan was obvious," Carter wrote, as reported by the outlet. "Our nation was founded on the peaceful transition of power, epitomized by George Washington laying down his sword to make way for democratic elections. Ignoring this history, President Trump vigorously campaigned for the Vice President to single-handedly determine the results of the 2020 election ... Every American – and certainly the President of the United States – knows that in a democracy, leaders are elected, not installed."
Trump and Eastman have not been charged with anything. The U.S. Department of Justice will have to decide whether or not to prosecute him or others, the outlet reported.
But Carter emphasized the need to set an example after the unprecedented attack on the Capitol.
"At most, this case is a warning about the dangers of 'legal theories' gone wrong, the powerful abusing public platforms, and desperation to win at all costs," Carter wrote, as reported by the outlet. "If Dr. Eastman and President Trump's plan had worked, it would have permanently ended the peaceful transition of power, undermining American democracy and the Constitution."
Judge Carter's office did not respond to KCBS Radio's request for comment at the time of publication.
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