The committee investigating the January 6 storming of the US Capitol is recommending criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.
They include conspiracy to defraud the United States; obstructing an official proceeding (the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory); conspiracy to make a false statement and inciting or assisting an insurrection.
The recommendation is mainly symbolic – with the US Justice Department responsible for deciding whether or not to prosecute Mr Trump.
But committee chair, Democrat Bennie Thompson, said: “We have every confidence that the work of this committee will help provide the road map to justice.”
A number of recommendations are made in the final report, which accuses Mr Trump of engaging in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the election.
Mr Thompson added: “We will also show that evidence we’ve gathered points to further action beyond the power of this committee or the congress to help ensure accountability in the law,” he said.
“Accountability that can only be found in the criminal justice system.”
House committee investigating Capitol riots to vote on recommending criminal charges against Donald Trump – reports
Mr Thompson also criticised Mr Trump for “breaking” faith in the democratic system: “If we are to survive as a nation of laws and democracy, this can never happen again.”
Describing Mr Trump’s behaviour on the day of the riots, committee vice chair, Republican Liz Cheney said: “In addition to being unlawful… this was an utter moral failure and a clear dereliction of duty.
“Evidence of this can be seen in the testimony of President Trump’s own White House counsel and several other White House witnesses.
“No man who would behave that way, at that moment in time, can ever serve in any position of authority in our nation again.
“He is unfit for any office.”
Ms Cheney said the committee’s work is only at the beginning, describing it as an “initial step” in addressing Mr Trump’s “efforts to remain in office illegally”.
Prosecutors are now considering the implications of the conduct described in the committee’s report, Ms Cheney added.
In a statement Mr Trump said “these folks don’t get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
After the committee’s report was made public, protesters gathered outside the Trump Tower in New York City, waving placards calling for him to be arrested.
Mr Trump posted on social media site, Truth Social: “But Liz (Cheney) lost by a record 40 points!”
Speaking on the radio, he described the committee as a “kangaroo court” which failed to recognise the reason why such a huge crowd assembled on January 6th – maintaining his claims about election fraud.
He insisted he asked for 10,000 troops to be ready on the day in case of protests – but the committee said it had found no evidence of this.
It also referred to the testimony of Mr Trump’s then acting secretary of defence, Christopher Miller, who said under oath that there was “no direct order” from the President to put 10,000 troops on standby.
