The US Department of Justice slammed President Joe Biden after he urged the Jan. 6 riot select committee to prosecute those who refuse to comply with a congressional subpoena.
As he was leaving Washington D.C. on Friday, Biden told reporters he hopes the committee 'goes after them and holds them accountable.'
When a CNN reporter asked if they should be prosecuted, Biden said, 'I do, yes.'
Now the White House is in damage control move over the president's statement as DOJ spokesperson Anthony Coley gave a blunt response to Biden's plea.
'The Department of Justice will make its own independent decisions in all prosecutions based solely on the facts and the law. Period. Full stop,' Coley said.
President Joe Biden upended days of silence from the White House regarding the Jan. 6 committee by asking the Department of Justice to hold those with subpoena's accountable. The DOJ snapped back by saying it will 'make its own independent decsion'
Press Secretary Jan Psaki said the president has been troubled by the riot, which she called one of the 'darkest days in our democracy'
Psaki tweeted in defense of Biden and claimed he supported the DOJ's decision
Biden's comments upended days of discipline from the White House, which had been distancing itself from the committee's expected criminal contempt referral against former Donald Trump ally Steven Bannon, who is refusing to comply with a subpoena.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki attempted to clarify Biden's statement on Twitter, writing that the president supports the independent role of the DOJ.
'As @potus has said many times, January 6th was one of the darkest days in our democracy. He supports the work of the committee and the independent role of the Department of Justice to
