'Guilty as Sin': Jamie Raskin Promises Trump Will Answer for 'Crime Wave'

Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has labeled former President Donald Trump "guilty as sin" while vowing that he will "get his comeuppance" over the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Raskin, a member of the House January 6 committee, described Trump as a "one-man crime wave" during a recent Salon interview. Attorney General Merrick Garland filed seditious conspiracy charges against members of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, Raskin noted, before suggesting Garland may also choose to eventually bring criminal charges against the former president.

"People were on Garland's case about the fact that there had been no indictments for seditious conspiracy. And then there was a huge indictment on seditious conspiracy against the Oath Keepers," Raskin told Salon's Dean Obeidallah. "And presumably more to come. They obviously weren't the only group there. There were these overlapping circles of conspiracy to knock over the Capitol and take down our government."

"Trump will get his comeuppance," he continued. "I know how maddening and frustrating it is to people. I share that feeling, having been an impeachment manager...He's as guilty as sin. He's a one-man crime wave, and it's amazing that his dad's money and this pack of lawyers that he travels with have been able get him off everything up until now."

Raskin then quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assertion that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it tends toward justice" before saying it's "going to catch up with Donald Trump too."

Raskin, a constitutional law professor before entering politics, served as lead impeachment manager during Trump's second impeachment trial. He authored the House article of impeachment that alleged Trump incited the January 6 riot.

Although the House January 6 committee cannot directly bring any criminal charges against Trump or anyone else allegedly involved in January 6, it can refer charges to Garland's Department of Justice (DOJ) if it finds that prosecutable offenses were committed.

There have been few indications that the DOJ intends to investigate Trump so far, although Garland reported in a televised speech last month that the department "remains committed to holding all Jan. 6 perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy."

Americans appear to be split on whether charges should be brought against Trump, with a poll released by The Economist and YouGov last month finding that 41 percent want the former president to be prosecuted while 39 percent do not. Another 20 percent said they were "not sure" if Trump should face charges.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's office for comment.