WASHINGTON — Pressured by Democrats and a few Republicans to hold former President Donald J. Trump accountable for his role in inspiring the attack on the Capitol, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland vowed Wednesday that the Justice Department would continue its investigation into the riots would continue “at every level,” he said he would defend democratic institutions against attacks and threats of violence.
“The Justice Department remains committed to holding all perpetrators of January 6, at any level, legally responsible — whether they were present that day or otherwise criminally responsible for the attack on our democracy,” Garland said. “We will follow the facts wherever they lead.”
The comments came a day before the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, when Mr. Trump’s supporters searched the Capitol in an attempt to certify Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s election victory. to stop. They also came as Mr. Garland came under pressure from Democrats to more aggressively investigate what role Mr. Trump and his allies may have played in encouraging the violence.
Several comments by the attorney general appeared to respond to critics who urged him to say more about the department’s investigation into what he called “an unprecedented attack on the seat of our democracy,” and to indicate whether investigators were keeping an eye on Mr Trump.
mr. Garland reiterated that the department would not share details about the investigation. “I understand this may not be the answer some are looking for,” he said. “But we will and we must speak through our work. Anything else jeopardizes the viability of our research and the civil liberties of our citizens.”
The Attorney General also emphasized a commitment to the rule of law and following the facts wherever they lead. While the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack has said it is open to a criminal referral to the department if it encounters evidence that Mr. Trump or others have broken the law by spreading false statements of voter fraud. Mr. Garland did. no mention of mr. Trump or any specific investigation the department might pursue.
Mr. Garland has never given a substantive public indication of whether or how aggressively the department might build a case against Mr. Trump or his advisers, and it is not clear what charges they could be brought against. Some Democrats have nevertheless publicly pressured him to make it clear that he intends to act.
Last month, former Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill said that Mr. Garland would either “take the opportunity or fall into disgrace as one of the worst attorney generals in this country’s history” if he didn’t hold Mr Trump accountable. for the January 6 attack.
Current and former Justice Department officials have pointed out that the Department’s Jan. 6 investigation, one of the largest investigations in its history, has led to more than 700 arrests to date and more than 275 people have been charged with hindering the duty of Congress to the election results. The FBI asked the public on Wednesday for help identifying hundreds of additional suspects, and the government estimates as many as 2,500 people could face federal charges.