Barr Tells Prosecutors to Consider Charging Violent Protesters With Sedition

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Story has paywall. Can someone please post excerpt?

[soothsayer]

1. Violent ones like little Kyle Rittenhouse?

Didn’t think so

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Would that include the violent right-wingers, too?

The Boogaloo Boys? The umbrella guy who was breaking windows in Minneapolis and the two assholes from the suburbs who started a fire at a Wells Fargo branch? Or do they get a pass?

[hlthe2b]

3. I have temporary access:

Attorney General William Barr told the nation’s federal prosecutors to be aggressive when charging violent demonstrators with crimes, including potentially prosecuting them for plotting to overthrow the U.S. government, people familiar with the conversation said.

In a conference call with U.S. attorneys across the country last week, Mr. Barr warned that sometimes violent demonstrations across the U.S. could worsen as the November presidential election approaches. He encouraged the prosecutors to seek a number federal charges, including under a rarely used sedition law, even when state charges could apply, the people said.

The call underscores the priority Mr. Barr has given to prosecuting crimes connected to months of protests against racial injustice that have at times become violent and led to major property damage, as President Trump has made a broader crackdown on violence accompanying the demonstrations a key campaign issue. U.S. attorneys have broad discretion in what charges they bring.

Federal prosecutors have charged more than 200 people with violent crimes related to the protests, most of whom face counts of arson, assaulting federal officers, or gun crimes. FBI officials earlier this year described the perpetrators as largely opportunistic individuals taking advantage of the protests. In more recent months, police officials say they are alarmed by the presence of armed fringe groups from both sides of the political spectrum.

In the call last week, Mr. Barr urged prosecutors to seek federal charges whenever possible, two of the people said. He listed a number of additional statutes they could potentially use, including one addressing conspiracies or plots to overthrow the government. Legal experts say the rarely used statute could be difficult to prove in court and potentially run up against First Amendment protections.

To bring a sedition case, prosecutors would have to prove there was a conspiracy to attack government agents or officials that posed an imminent danger, legal experts said. Rhetoric alone wouldn’t suffice.

Officials have also discussed using a statute that allows prosecutors to bring a federal case against someone who impedes or obstructs a law-enforcement officer responding to unrest, which experts said is also infrequently applied and could raise similar challenges. Federal prosecutors in June brought that charge against three people accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at New York City police vehicles during protests. They have pleaded not guilty.

A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to comment.

[Nevilledog]

6. TY!!!!!

[JHB]

10. "could be difficult to prove in court and potentially run up against First Amendment protections."

Yes, but those things won't come into play until after a slew of headlines before the election they think will help Trump.

[C_U_L8R]

4. They are so eager to start executing liberals

It's their logical next step after ripping the wombs out of migrant mothers

[mindem]

5. Barr is a fascist prick

[babylonsister]

7. More here...

https://www.politicususa.com/2020/09/16/barr-overthrow-the-government.html

Posted on Wed, Sep 16th, 2020 by Jason Easley
Barr Tells Prosecutors To Charge Protesters With Trying To Overthrow The Government


Attorney General Barr told federal prosecutors to potentially charge violent protesters with attempting to overthrow the government.

The Wall Street Journal reported:

In a conference call with U.S. attorneys across the country last week, Mr. Barr warned that sometimes violent demonstrations across the U.S. could worsen as the November presidential election approaches. He encouraged the prosecutors to seek a number federal charges, including under a rarely used sedition law, even when state charges could apply, the people said.
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….

In the call last week, Mr. Barr urged prosecutors to seek federal charges whenever possible, two of the people said. He listed a number of additional statutes they could potentially use, including one addressing conspiracies or plots to overthrow the government. Legal experts say the rarely used statute could be difficult to prove in court and potentially run up against First Amendment protections.

To bring a sedition case, prosecutors would have to prove there was a conspiracy to attack government agents or officials that posed an imminent danger, legal experts said. Rhetoric alone wouldn’t suffice.

Violent protesters should be prosecuted for their violence, not for trying to overthrow the government. The legal standard for sedition will be difficult if not impossible to reach, but Barr’s guidance wasn’t really about punishing violence.

Barr wants protesters charged with overthrowing the government, because it will give Trump something to campaign on, and boost his claims of law and order, and that the country is under threat from protesters.

How would federal prosecutors prove sedition in court? Protesting the government is a First Amendment right. Prosecutors would need to be able to prove that the protesters are conspiring with the goal of overthrowing the government.

The Attorney General is actively using the power of his position to help Trump win an election.

Barr’s behavior is corrupt and undermining the integrity of the DOJ. Hopefully, the nation’s prosecutors are smart enough not to be turned into campaign workers for Donald Trump.

[Nevilledog]

8. TY!

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Der. . .

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