The House Intelligence Committee has completed its 18-month-long inquiry into the 2020 election. The report contains 17 findings. It recommends a criminal referral to Justice Department. In addition to criminal referrals, the committee has also recommended a number of policy changes, including reforming the Electoral Count Act.
During the 18-month-long investigation, the House Intelligence Committee held several public hearings. Each member of the panel highlighted specific areas of investigation. At the end of the public hearings, the committee released a summary of the committee’s findings. While the summary does not reveal new information, it does confirm what many Republicans and Trump supporters have already concluded.
The report suggests that President Donald Trump was at the center of an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. In addition, the report suggested that four members of the House, including House Minority Leader McCarthy and Rep. Perry, should be investigated. However, the committee’s findings do not blame the intelligence community or law enforcement for their failures. They instead point to weaknesses in the electoral system that allowed Trump to try to overturn the election.
As part of the broader recommendations, the House Intelligence Committee recommended a number of legislative changes to the Electoral Count Act. Additionally, the committee recommended an overhaul of the 1887 Act. This will require congressional approval.
The full report is expected to be released on Monday. It is anticipated to run over 800 pages and include eight chapters, with witness statements and evidence. Several witnesses have been subpoenaed, including former President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former Chief of Staff John Kelly.
In addition, the report may include recommendations on obstruction of justice. Members of the committee could refer to “false statements made under oath” and “witness intimidation.” Earlier, the report recommended criminal referrals to the Justice Department for a number of key players.
The full committee is expected to vote on the subcommittee’s recommendations. It will also likely vote on the final report and submit it to Congress. If the final report is approved, the House Intelligence Committee will likely echo the main findings.
The Committee will release a transcript of a hearing held by Hope Hicks, a former Trump loyalist. In the interview, Hicks criticized the president for a number of his policies, including a decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Her testimony was particularly damaging to the president. The transcript is scheduled to be released today.
There are some members of the House who will not be present for the report’s release. Two of the Democratic members of the committee, U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney and Zoe Lofgren, will not be back in the House for at least two years. Meanwhile, several Republican members of the committee will also not be in the House for another two years.
Although the committee has concluded its 18-month-long inquiry, it is not yet certain whether it will be the last piece of the puzzle. A House Oversight Committee hearing on the matter is slated for late July. However, due to hurricanes in Florida, the hearing was delayed.