Pascrell Praises Biden for Not Shielding January 6 Trump Role

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today praised President Joe Biden's refusal to shield archival materials from Donald Trump's White House from review by the select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 terrorist insurrection against the U.S. Capitol.
"President Biden did the right thing today," said Rep. Pascrell. "Standing up for our democracy is bigger than turf fights between the legislature and the executive. The January 6 commission remains our last best chance to get answers for what happened that dark day when democracy almost died. As the committee continues its important work under Chairman and great patriot Bennie Thompson, we can add obstruction to the list of Donald Trump's treasonous crimes. And if Steve Bannon or any of Trump's other lackeys won't cooperate, then Congress should hold them in contempt and throw them in a jail cell.

Pascrell concluded by sounding an alarm, "The danger has not passed and if anything has grown. Our window to protect democracy is finite and will close without action. The Justice Department should take heed. If we fail to hold Donald Trump and his enablers accountable for their crimes, we will only invite greater crimes and treason from wicked Republican actors. Our leaders must heed the lessons of history lest we soon repeat them. Without accountability, America will lurch inexorably down the path of authoritarianism and fascism."

Rep. Pascrell has been outspoken in demanding accountability for the Capitol terror riot and Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. On December 11, 2020, Pascrell urged House leadership to "refuse to seat in the 117th Congress any Members-elect seeking to make Donald Trump an unelected dictator."

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