Who is John Eastman and why is he being referred for charges by the Jan. 6 committee

Anyone following the House select committee's investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault has probably heard the name John Eastman, the law professor who was referred to the Justice Department for possible prosecution on criminal charges on Monday. 

Eastman allegedly pitched then-President Donald Trump on a scheme described Monday by Democratic committee member Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, as a "meritless proposal" — "a combination of bogus election fraud claims and ... fake electoral ballots to say that (Vice President) Mike Pence, presiding over the joint session, could reject legitimate electoral votes for President-elect Biden." Moreover, the committee pointed out that even before the 2020 election had taken place, Eastman had "admitted" that Pence would not be able "to lawfully refuse to count official electoral votes," and yet formulated a scheme for him to do so anyway.

The panel has made a criminal referral of Eastman for possible charges of obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States; both are symbolic, unless the Justice Department chooses to act on them.