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In an 845-page report released on December 22, the January 6 investigative committee on the Capitol riots recommended that former US President Donald Trump never be allowed to run for the presidency again. 

The recommendation comes against the backdrop of recent criminal referrals that were issued against Trump for breaching the Capitol and inciting violence.

The fourth and final statute we invoke for referral is Title 18 Section 2383. This statute applies to anyone, who incites, assists, or engages in insurrection against the United States, and anyone who “gives aid or comfort” to an insurrection. pic.twitter.com/pgEALKK2Vp

— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) December 19, 2022

The report which was the result of an 18-month investigation and included interviews with 1000 witnesses contains several other recommendations that are intended to prevent such an episode from ever repeating itself.

"Our country has come too far to allow a defeated president to turn himself into a successful tyrant by upending our democratic institutions (and) fomenting violence," the panel's chairman Bennie Thompson said on the day the report was issued.

The report further calls on lawmakers to speed up on legislation to prevent Trump and others who are "engaged in insurrection" to be barred from holding office - "whether federal or state, civilian or military."

Last month, the twice-impeached Republican billionaire announced he will run for the 2024 American presidential elections as a Republican candidate.

The committee proposed amendments to certain electoral laws be passed and a federal crackdown on extremist groups be launched in the list of recommendations.

It also called for the Congress' certification of presidential elections to be designated as a "national special security event."

This marked the panel's final appearance before the House of Representatives which will be controlled by Republicans in January who have so far voiced opposition to the report, slamming it as a sham document. 

Concerns are therefore being raised with regard to the likelihood that these recommendations may ever be implemented. 

Read more: 'Sufficient evidence' to criminally charge Trump over Capitol breach

On December 19, the January 6 House panel recommended criminal referrals for Trump, his attorney John Eastman, and others for breaching four federal criminal statutes, namely: the obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to make a false statement (fake electors), and fourth, to incite, assist, or aid an insurrection

The panel began to hand over transcripts and documents to independent prosecutor Jack Smith to look into Trump's role in the Capitol riots, as well as his handling of secret documents that were kept at his Mar-a-Lago beach resort.

"If the evidence is as we presented it, I'm convinced the Justice Department will charge former President Trump," committee chairman Thompson told CNN ahead of the report's release.

‘I wonder if their handpicked Special “Prosecutor,” Jack Smith, knew what was going on?’

-@realDonaldTrump

😎 pic.twitter.com/y3KRbYPOlX

— Just Human (@realjusthuman) December 20, 2022

Read more: Members of Trump cabinet wanted him to resign after Capitol riots