Justice Department, FBI debate not charging some of the Capitol rioters

[Nevilledog]

Last edited Sat Jan 23, 2021, 04:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Devlin Barrett
@DevlinBarrett
Exclusive: Justice Department, FBI debate not charging some of the roughly 800 Capitol rioters in cases where no link seen to violence

Justice Department, FBI debate not charging some of the Capitol rioters
Law enforcement officials are considering forgoing charges against those who went into Congress but are not linked to violence, threats or destruction.
washingtonpost.com
11:25 AM · Jan 23, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/doj-capitol-rioters-charges-debate/2021/01/23/3b0cf112-5d97-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html

Federal law enforcement officials are privately debating whether they should decline to charge some of the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol this month — a politically loaded proposition but one alert to the practical concern that hundreds of such cases could swamp the local courthouse.

The internal discussions are in their early stages, and no decisions have been reached about whether to forgo charging some of those who illegally entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.

Justice Department officials have promised a relentless effort to identify and arrest those who stormed the Capitol that day, but internally there is robust back-and-forth about whether charging them all is the best course of action. That debate comes at a time when officials are keenly
sensitive that the credibility of the Justice Department and the FBI are at stake in such decisions, given the apparent security and intelligence failures that preceded the riot, these people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss legal deliberations.

Federal officials estimate that roughly 800 people surged into the building, though they caution that such numbers are imprecise, and the real figure could be 100 people or more in either direction.

*snip*

[BusyBeingBest]

1. You have got to be fucking kidding me.

[MagickMuffin]

2. Sorry not Sorry, but they were trying to OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT

Don't worry about the courts system being overloaded. That is what they are there for, to charge people for their crimes and to make an example of them so no one else will do this ever again!

[ananda]

15. Arggh...

Rightful anger and disbelief at the tantamount injustice here should not be labeled "losing their minds." Those people were trying to overthrow the government and kill leaders in the capitol. They should be prosecuted and sentenced to the full extent of the law!

[SoonerPride]

3. "Prosecutorial discretion" for white terrorists.

Black folks just get gunned down or choked out on live tv with no trial whatsoever.

[ananda]

13. And always charged and sentenced even for minor crimes.

Sometimes disproportionately...

[BComplex]

28. That needs to be pointed out at every turn. These are white terrorists.

I was terrorized by their sheer number and aggression entering our capitol with sedition on their minds.

[RockRaven]

4. They are right about one thing -- the credibility of the DOJ is at stake.

And at a time when their credibility is as flimsy as it has been in more than a half century, thanks to 4 years of persistent corruption/erosion by Trump, Sessions, Rosenstein, and Barr.

[underpants]

5. Convict, fine, community service at the least.

Yes at least heavy fines and service and have these convictions on their record.

For the rest of their lives these will show up on a background search. They will have to report it and if they don’t face losing their job.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. ThIS!!!

Maybe even as light as PBJ but absolutely no less than that (assuming guilt of the charge is proved)

[PatSeg]

18. There you go

I was thinking the same thing. Even if the repercussions are relatively minor, there should be some form of accountability, hopefully to insure that they don't try this crap again and as a warning to others. Meanwhile, I hope they are in a total panic waiting for the FBI to knock on their door.

[underpants]

29. Make this go down on their PERMANENT RECORD

[PatSeg]

34. Absolutely

"I participated in the siege and insurrection of the Capitol building." This can hardly be passed off as a peaceful protest or demonstration. They didn't just caught up in the moment, they clearly knew what they were doing was illegal and could have consequences.

[gibraltar72]

6. Jesus Christ!!

[Liberal In Texas]

7. They don't charge every single one of them we'll just have this again.

They will be back with some other violent uprising with their idiotic justifications unless they are met with the fullest extent of the law.

LOCK THEM UP!

[Nevilledog]

32. I like this analogy

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
National Security Counselors
@NatlSecCnslrs
BREAKING Justice Department will no longer charge anyone with Material Support for Terrorism unless they personally performed an act of terrorism.

See how that sounds? That's how this sounds.

Devlin Barrett
@DevlinBarrett
Exclusive: Justice Department, FBI debate not charging some of the roughly 800 Capitol rioters in cases where no link seen to violence https://washingtonpost.com/national-security/doj-capitol-rioters-charges-debate/2021/01/23/3b0cf112-5d97-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html?tid=ss_tw…
1:39 PM · Jan 23, 2021

[LiberalArkie]

9. Look, a lot of them are police and probably a lot are federal law enforcement officers

The DOJ would not want to hurt the record of a fellow LEO.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

10. Arrest ALL who are positively identified. N/T

[SheltieLover]

11. Coddling emboldening!

[Kid Berwyn]

12. No excuses. Arrest all they can charge.

They can explain in court.

[uponit7771]

14. omg 🤬🤬🤬

[Lokee11]

16. Fuck That!

Every one of the traitorous fucks knew what they were there for - not one of them thought they were on an open tour of the capitol, so though the ignorance is strong with that group, they can spare me the bullshit, and furthermore ignorance has never been a defense of breaking the law any way. Well check that, they used it for the Orange One as a defense all the time, so who the fuck knows, can we ever get out of the upside down - JEEZ-ZUS?!?!?!!

If it was anywhere near possible, I would want ALL of them charged with treason, and all the consequences that follow a treasonous conviction - but I know it is not possible.

✊!

[DFW]

17. Swamp the courthouse? Swamp away!

Treason and vandalism are not trivialized by the fact that there were numerous perps. So keep them in overcrowded cells of a local jail for a few weeks longer than originally planned. For the sake of the nation, NO participant must be allowed to walk. Let the severity of the sentence be determined by how violent or peaceful they were during their riot, they ALL came to commit an illegal act. They must thus ALL stand trial for it.

[stopdiggin]

19. if you entered that building

as part of a mob ....
I just cannot accept that as a "discretionary" five over the limit type of offense. Sorry -- just not.

----- --- --- -----

[NotASurfer]

20. If and only if they're cooperating fully and providing valuable information on funding/organization

And if they so much as have a parking ticket, reinstate charges as a condition.

Otherwise criminal trespassing at least. Like Oprah said, everybody (in this audience) gets a prize.

[Solly Mack]

21. I never thought they would charge them all. Which doesn't speak to my druthers.

I would like every effort be made to identify as many as possible whether they charge them or not. Even if it takes a year or two (or longer) to identify them.

I do want suspect members of Congress investigated for ties to the insurrectionists. We can go along with republicans and pretend that it doesn't matter, but I think insurrectionists inside the government matters - a lot.

Trump definitely needs to be criminally investigated fully in the matter. All avenues to and from him exposed. With charges for all.

There's a school of thought that you give your enemies a way out in a fight. A way to save face as they slink away. And that works for certain things.

But anything less than full surrender in this case is granting them the ability to come back and do it all over again.

This wasn't a policy disagreement between political parties. This wasn't a case of people holding dissenting opinions.

This was insurrection. This was the first major offensive by those wishing to start a civil war to install their own leader after wiping out the opposition.

Don't think for a second that Congressional republicans would not have gone along with it had the insurrectionists been successful in their attempt to murder Pelosi, Pence, and others - because they would have gotten on board with it without hesitation.

They would also be calling for unity in such an event as they are now. And it would mean the same thing as their calls for unity mean now - Get over it.

We have long known that right-wingers get angry and turn to violence on a whim. We have long known that they are fed constant lies to increase their fear levels. We have long known that the GOP encourages ignorance and hate in their voters.

That needs to stop.

We can't stop it by pretending it doesn't matter.

It matters.

January 6, 2021 proved that.

A long history of violence by the right proves it.

[Irish_Dem]

22. Not surprised at all, most people just walked away or got trespassing charges.

Everyone kept saying, more serious charges will come later.
Sure.

[Ms. Toad]

23. If the concern is overcrowding the courts-

stagger the trials. Those facing the most severe charges go first (or, alternately, those for whom there is ample evidence, or whose cases can be quickly disposed of), then move on to the next tier.

[meadowlander]

24. +1. It's not like there's a statute of limitations on sedition.

[Sanity Claws]

25. Reallocate court resources by dismissing the charges against BLM protestors

and similar low level charges. Everything else pales in comparison to an insurrection to overthrow the government.

[BComplex]

26. I knew it! Trump's FBI. Trump's DOJ.

NO!!! These people are terrorists. They all must be charged as seditionists.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

27. Charge them all or WHITE PRIVILEGE

Come on, They ALL knew what they were doing

If you don't charge some, it will happen again, like Trump they will feel like they got away with it !

[KPN]

30. That would be a huge mistake. Clogging the courts and overloading FBI etc.,

are reasonable concerns maybe for jaywalking and traffic tickets. Not invading the Capitol Building while it is in session to finalize the results of a Democratic election absent of fraud.

Can’t they just group the violators by severity or type of violation and haul the cheering squad as one big group before the judge in one big sitting for trial and sentencing? Geezuz!!!!!



If this was BLM or Antifa, they’d go after hanging every one of them! Justice now!

[Vinca]

31. Forget politics, if they aren't held accountable they'll just do it again.

[occupant]

33. I'll spank your little bottom boy, now move along

Bullfuckin shit! these mobsters HAVE to be charged ! NANCY!!!! You can't let these FBI/DOJ assholes get away with this. How did it feel being dragged running to a safe hidey hole cos hundreds were out to KILL you! These knobs wanna let many of them go free with just a little pat on the butt? They staged a fuckin coup and ye shall set them free! NOT! You got enough in your own crew that are crooked as shit. You gonna let them all regroup and pull off a real insurgence. G3et your shit together and do your fuckin job! Lock all those sick fuckers up ! you must!!!

[bdamomma]

35. This is most disturbing

they committed CRIMES of insurrection and getting off paying bail, and that the girl who stole Pelosi's computer and was going to to sell it Putin, is under her mother's supervision??? Like WTF????

Is it because they are white???? go by different rules??? Different rules for whites to let them go and arrest and kill Blacks?????

[Tommymac]

36. Charge them all or the DOJ will once again be seen as racist.

That's a fact, jack.

Time to call Rep Lamb.

[JI7]

37. What if they were Muslim ?