Durbin Statement on Justice Department Commitment to Holding Accountable All Perpetrators of the January 6 Attack at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Attorney General Merrick Garland’s confirmation that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold accountable all perpetrators, at any level, of the January 6, 2021 insurrection—whether they were present at the U.S. Capitol or not:

“On January 6, 2021, a mob of politically-motivated violent extremists attacked and ransacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn a valid election.  Over the past year, prosecutors and FBI agents have worked diligently to bring that mob to justice.  But make no mistake: until those who unleashed the mob are also held accountable, the risk of future attacks on our democracy will continue to grow. 

“Attorney General Garland’s confirmation that DOJ will hold accountable all perpetrators, at any level, of the January 6 attack is a critical step toward justice for all those harmed in the attack—including the more than 140 law enforcement officers who were wounded, and the five who lost their lives in the days and weeks after.  It is crucial that we send a strong, clear message to the nation—and to the world—that those who incite violence against their fellow Americans will be held accountable.”

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