This story follows along with the New York Times report that we published this morning in which it was revealed that the Department of Justice had formed a grand jury in which it was examining the criminality that occurred in the White House and the organizers of January 6th itself. Of course, “the White House” includes a lot of people and doesn’t necessarily focus on Trump.

The Washington Post is reporting that the DOJ is including Trump in its criminal investigation. This revelation seems timed to coincide with Merrick Garland’s interview on NBC News with Lester Holt (On which we reported earlier), in which Garland said they would prosecute without fear or favor.

SEE ALSO: MERRICK GARLAND’S FIERCEST PLEDGE YET, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR, HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE

According to the Washington Post:

The Justice Department is investigating President Donald Trump’s actions as part of its criminal probe of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors who are questioning witnesses before a grand jury — including two top aides to Vice President Mike Pence — have asked in recent days about conversations with Trump, his lawyers, and others in his inner circle who sought to substitute Trump allies for certified electors from some states Joe Biden won, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The prosecutors have asked hours of detailed questions about meetings Trump led in December 2020 and January 2021; his pressure campaign on Pence to overturn the election; and what instructions Trump gave his lawyers and advisers about fake electors and sending electors back to the states, the people said.

The “instructions Trump gave.” Keywords, “conspiracy.”

Well there it ishttps://t.co/l0lTEyvxbN

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 26, 2022

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[email protected], @JasonMiciak, with Nicole Hickman