The Justice Department has been conducting its own investigation into this for some time. No doubt the committee's referral will put more pressure on the Department of Justice. The prosecutors, as they are weighing the evidence, are going to be thinking very differently about how it would stand up in court.
The Congressional committee probing the riot at America’s Capitol recommended that the Justice Department bring four charges against Donald Trump. But the road to indictment and prosecution of the former president is long and winding. The UN’s biodiversity summit ended with a historic but still unsatisfying agreement. And our language columnist presents his choice for word of the year.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer