The anticipated report on the Justice Department’s response to the January 6 Capitol riot is likely to be delayed until after the presidential election, according to the department’s inspector general.
- Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified that the report draft is incomplete and a final release before the election is improbable.
- Horowitz expressed hope that the report would be completed before the January 20 inauguration, pending classification review.
- The investigation was initially paused due to concurrent criminal investigations and later reinitiated last year.
- The report will examine the Justice Department’s preparedness and response, including inter-agency coordination and potential deficiencies.
A long-awaited report on the Justice Department’s actions during the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot is anticipated to be delayed until after the forthcoming presidential election in November, per Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s statements during a House subcommittee testimony. Horowitz conveyed that the current draft of the report is not yet ready for release and projected that it will unlikely be completed in time for the election. He stated, “I doubt it would be done in time for the election.”
When questioned by Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky regarding the completion of the report before the January 20 inauguration, Horowitz responded, “That is certainly my hope.” He added that the final version would undergo a potentially lengthy classification review.
The Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, was a result of supporters of former President Donald Trump protesting the certification of the 2020 election results. This occurred following weeks of allegations by Trump and his allies of widespread voter fraud. Subsequently, Trump has been indicted on charges related to election subversion and has pleaded not guilty. Trump has already begun casting doubt on the forthcoming election results should he lose to Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
The investigation into the Justice Department’s handling of the riot was unveiled in 2021. Horowitz noted that the inquiry was temporarily paused to allow for criminal investigations of the January 6 attack to proceed. The investigation recommenced last year.
The scope of the forthcoming report will encompass an examination of the intelligence possessed by the agency prior to the riot and whether any deficiencies in policies or protocols hindered adequate preparation or response. Horowitz emphasized that his office is collaborating with the inspector generals of the Defense, Homeland Security, and Interior departments, all of which have initiated their own reviews. A Senate Homeland Security Committee report from last year criticized the FBI and Department of Homeland Security for overlooking threats that were conspicuously planned on social media.
To date, nearly 1,500 individuals have faced charges associated with the Capitol riot, as reported by the Department of Justice last month.
The release of the Justice Department’s January 6 report is projected for after the presidential election, pending further review and finalization.
