Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of December 19

Jan. 6 committee recommends criminal charges against Trump, including aiding insurrection (CBC)

The U.S. House Jan. 6 committee has wrapped up its investigation of the violent 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection, with lawmakers on Monday declaring that they have assembled a "roadmap to justice" to bring criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and his allies.

As they cap one of the most exhaustive and aggressive congressional probes in memory, the panel's seven Democrats and two Republicans are recommending criminal charges against Trump and associates who helped him launch a multifaceted pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss.

The committee alleged violations of four criminal statutes by Trump, in both the run-up to the riot and during the insurrection itself, as it recommended the former president for prosecution to the U.S. Justice Department. The charges recommended by the committee are conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress, conspiracy to make a false statement and insurrection.

While a criminal referral is mostly symbolic, with the Justice Department ultimately deciding whether to prosecute Trump or others, it is a decisive end to a probe that had an almost singular focus from the start.

In adopting its final report, the committee also recommended a congressional ethics investigations for House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and other members of Congress for their actions in defying congressional subpoenas for information about their interactions with Trump before, during and after the siege.

"The committee is nearing the end of its work, but as a country we remain in strange and uncharted waters," said Chair Bennie Thompson. "Nearly two years later this is still a time of reflection and reckoning."

He said, "We have every confidence that the work of this committee will help provide a roadmap to justice."

The committee also voted 9-0 to approve its final report, which will include findings, interview transcripts and legislative recommendations. The report is expected to be released in full Wednesday.

Congress wants to overhaul retirement plans. Here’s what might be coming.

Tucked halfway down into a 4,155-page spending bill that proposes $1.7 trillion to fund the federal government through much of 2023 are proposed changes to how retirement plans work. Intended to boost retirement savings and access to 401(k) and individual retirement accounts, the Secure Act 2.0 is aimed at low- and middle-income workers, those strapped with student debt and people who may not yet have a long-term retirement account.

Will Hansen, the chief government affairs officer with the American Retirement Association, which advocated for Secure 2.0, told The Washington Post it’s the largest bill covering retirement in more than 15 years. “These provisions will increase the number of small businesses that are offering a plan, as well as increase the savings Americans are putting aside for retirement,” he said.

To avert a federal shutdown, Congress has a Friday deadline to pass the epic “omnibus” bill that comprises the retirement-plan measures and many other provisions, including assistance to Ukraine, military funding and banning the use of TikTok on government devices.

Here are some of the key proposals for retirement savings.