Trump's troops detain a Black lawyer in D.C.--swarmed by 20 officers just ....

[riversedge]

This just happened within the last hours--I checked for a news article via google but could not find one. It is wrong--being swarmed by so many police-ICE officers. And, now as of Sunday night , the National Guard carries guns. This is so scary.


LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻
@LongTimeHistory
·
3h
Trump's troops detain a Black lawyer in D.C.—swarmed by 20 officers just for walking down the block.

Paul Bryant plans to press charges on those who assaulted him "in a way that I will not forget anytime soon."

He is a West Point graduate—and served as Infantry Officer in Army before starting his legal career.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, FBI, and other federal agencies stopped him for no reason in Logan Circle, Washington D.C.

He was handcuffed for an hour while his vehicle was searched without permission. #DemsUnited

Link to tweet

LongTime🤓FirstTime👨‍💻
@LongTimeHistory
·
3h
Corporate attorney Paul Bryant—who is also a U.S. Army veteran—became the latest example of how little protection professional status provides in the face of racial profiling.

"I remain detained and not able to go. I do not know what charges. I do not know why I’m being detained. I was given no information."

Trump has manufactured a "crime crisis" in D.C. to send federal troops and heavily armed agents into Black neighborhoods.

Community members say these forces are not there to protect—they are there to intimidate, control—and send a warning of what could spread nationwide.

Link to tweet

[Irish_Dem]

1. We will all have to start carrying papers.

[RockRaven]

3. Papers won't protect anyone.

One's skin color/appearance might. But don't count on even that.

[Irish_Dem]

4. True. Everyone is a target depending upon the daily whims of a madman.

[RockRaven]

14. Not just a madman. He's nothing w/o the willing legions of brownshirted scumbags.

That lazy fat fuck couldn't accomplish anything, and I mean ANYTHING, without thousands upon thousands (upon... etc) of our fellow Americans doing the dirty deeds for him daily.

[electric_blue68]

29. This and Repuglicans...

And his minions are nowhere cute, like the real Mnions! 🩷

[url=https://postimg.cc/S2J4Hhgg][img][/img][/url]

😉
(grim times sometimes call for silly humor!)

[Irish_Dem]

49. The crime boss always gets his minions to do the dirty work.

It is how a crime syndicate works.

Yes Trump is a lazy evil man.

[allegorical oracle]

59. Understand the sign-up/salary funds are attractive, but I know I would rather

take lower pay at a more menial job than to be sent to occupy a city of mostly law-abiding citizens.

Isn't there a punishment for the Ntl. Guard soldiers if they refuse to carry out orders?

[MadameButterfly]

79. It's a conundrum.

We don't want the good and conscientious National Guard soldiers to quit. We need them in place when it gets bad enough for the military/guard/police to resist illegal orders. But meantime, what are they to do? I don't know how much choice they have in who they arrest; whether there are guards out there managing to avoid any arrests of this kind. Or what would happen if they said no.

Resistance from within the Guard will only be effective if a critical mass of them do it. i don't know what it will take to get there, but we aren't there yet.

[cbabe]

7. Told his id was fake

Newsweek
https://www.newsweek.com › us-citizen-detained-ice-told-his-real-id-fake-2076724
US citizen detained by ICE and told his REAL ID is "fake"
May 24, 2025Leonardo García Venegas, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and detained by ICE despite presenting a valid license.

[slightlv]

61. Agreed... especially if you're female.

[Hekate]

13. My gardener/irrigation specialist is a naturalized citizen whose son is a US Army veteran.

He now carries his papers

[RockRaven]

15. Hope is better than despair, but see #7, papers are no shield from emboldened bastards.

[KentuckyWoman]

36. My neighbor won't speak out in public or online

Her husband is a naturalized citizen in the 1950s, from Canada. Whitest white guy you ever met. Old enough that he legit needs a walker outside because the wind is blowing. She's even afraid conversations in their home will get picked up by one of the many devices in the house with microphones built in and they'll come drag him off as retribution, strip his citizenship away and send him off to some torture prison.

I used to think she was being a little hysterical, not to her face of course, but now... not so sure.

[Irish_Dem]

50. I wonder if ICE even cares that people have papers with them.

I don't know if the ICE nazis can even read.

[soldierant]

17. But not originals. Copies only. Originals under lock and key.

[Irish_Dem]

51. But in some cases, ICE and the US state dept demand originals.

A friend of mine is a naturalized citizen and was having trouble getting her passport renewed.
The state department wanted all her official documentation and would only accept the original copies
which had to be mailed in. She was afraid to let go of those documents but had no choice.
She was sure the govt was going to destroy the documents and she would be screwed.

She is still waiting for them to be returned. It has been months now.

[OldBaldy1701E]

53. That is why I will only show them to someone in an office, in person, and I will not leave without them.

Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2025, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)

I am going through that right now.

I am not mailing my most important documents to anyone from the federal government.

I will go to a federal office and show the originals. But, I am not going to mail them.

[Irish_Dem]

72. They refused to give her an address where she could show up with the docs.

[OldBaldy1701E]

80. Not surprising. (n/t)

[Irish_Dem]

81. She was afraid also to show up for an appt.

She has no record of any kind but that doesn’t mean anything to the nazis.

[LiberalArkie]

71. In Arkansas you can order out certified birth certificates and probably others.

I keep 2 or the certified birth certificates and certified birth and death certificates of my parents. I think they were like $7.50 a copy. So not that bad. I did have to use my birth certificate to send away for my RealID license.

I have heard recently that the LEO's do not like to accept it. I have almost been arrested for fictitious license plate. One trooper just looked at it and would not run it. It was a ham radio license plate. The original personalized plate. But I was lucky as copys like to herd together. As I was sitting in the back of the car, a county cop came by and ran the plate and asked me if I had my ham license. I told him it was in my wallet. He asked the trooper for my wallet and handed it to me and I showed it to me. He verified my image on my wallet.

The whole thing would have never happened it if had just typed in my license plate into his mobile terminal.

They are so fucking stupid.

[Irish_Dem]

73. These were original foreign and state dept documents.

The state dept already has the originals since they are the ones who issued them years ago. They still want the documents in her possession.

[LiberalArkie]

74. Anything to cause the civilian a problem.

Because even if you had them in your possession, they would loose them in their car. They enjoy laughing about it when their herd is together.

[markodochartaigh]

28. We hear anecdotes

of US citizens stopped at the border and asked to unlock their phone. How long before people are stopped randomly on the street to check their social media accounts?

[Irish_Dem]

52. It will be a cold day in hell before I hand over my phone to a gd Nazi.

[Norbert]

55. I will destroy mine first.

It is none of their business.

[Irish_Dem]

57. We need to carry a hammer to smash our phones when the nazis demand we turn them over.

[Linda ladeewolf]

78. I already have.

I still need to get a real ID, but I now have a small folder that holds everything and fits in my back pocket when walking at the park. It fits in my wallet as well. I don’t think they will stop with people of color, they will soon be harassing the old, the the disabled and anyone they think they can get away with.

[Irish_Dem]

82. Yes. The have facial recognition now.

They can go after anyone they want.

[electric_blue68]

2. FUCK You, GOONS!

[Hekate]

5. ICE is an organization that needs 6 fist-swinging arm-pumping thugs to take down a small gardener...

Clearly they understand threat-levels! Therefore it takes 20 masked armed thugs to give a beat-down to a Black lawyer taking a walk around the block!

[rsdsharp]

6. I'm hoping that an attorney -- even a corporate attorney -- didn't actually say he was going to press charges.

[littlemissmartypants]

26. I don't understand. Why?

Is it what he said? How he said it? Please elaborate. TY
❤️

[rsdsharp]

39. I don't know if he said it, or not, but the material in the OP implies he did.

Paul Bryant plans to press charges on those who assaulted him "in a way that I will not forget anytime soon."

You can’t “press charges” against someone as a private citizen. He could sue them civilly, but he does not have the power to bring a criminal prosecution (press charges), and I don’t see “Judge Jeanine” prosecuting Trump’s thugs for their actions.

[littlemissmartypants]

41. Is it possible...

He meant hire an attorney to pursue a remedy of some sort?

ETA:
https://legalclarity.org/how-to-press-charges-steps-to-take-and-what-to-expect/
How to Press Charges: Steps to Take and What to Expect
Learn the process of pressing charges, from reporting an incident to understanding your role in legal proceedings.

[rsdsharp]

42. He could, but it would be a civil remedy.

I was surprised an attorney would say he plans to press charges. That has a specific meaning — criminal charges — which he cannot bring on his own. Only the government can do that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

60. Not on his own, but it is used for a victim deciding whether they want authorities to proceed

see eg
https://www.justia.com/criminal/docs/uniform-crime-reporting-handbook/assault/
https://www.rossenlawfirm.com/all-charges-dropped-for-young-fort-lauderdale-resident-in-aggravated-assault-and-battery-case/

Whether any authority would do so, given that they all seem to be involved in his detainment, seems unlikely, I guess.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

8. being outside after dark while Black

[electric_blue68]

9. Sigh 😔 Though a long time experience for many

[popsdenver]

20. That's nothing..............

In Colorado, the Aurora Cops AND Aurora Fire Paramedics, literally EUTHANIZED a black kid walking down the street a few years ago by using an OVERDOSE of KETAMINE.......He was handcuffed on the ground and given the HOTSHOT of 'Vitamin K".........

[electric_blue68]

31. Oh, I Totally Remember that! The ?violin player. ...

And when violinist, and other stringed instruments players held an outside memorial the Aorora po-leece marched on them!

[BeyondGeography]

10. Disgusting

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. This will be a fun lawsuit to follow

[MrWowWow]

12. This Will Be a Beeeg Taxpayer-Paid $ettlement

Last edited Mon Aug 25, 2025, 11:29 PM - Edit history (1)

It is probably not possible to single out the arresting officer(s) for prosecution. 12 to 18 months from now, it'll be a five line, low visibility news item. Happens every time. Eventually, more of this will happen. Shots will be fired, and we'll see a Kent State-like massacre. I think it will first happen in L.A., NYC, Seattle, Portland,Oregon or Chicago. After that, incremental martial law will very likely graduate/be elevated to a national martial law condition. That'll suspend the Constitution, the 2026 Midterm Elections, and the 2028 General Election.

[Klarkashton]

18. Shoot outs are bound to happen. It's unknown

If it would cause an escalation or not. It might bring the bastards to their senses. Who knows.

[Johonny]

19. In a police state, the cops are the criminals

And the only crime is not obeying.

[popsdenver]

21. Or especially:

Obeying, but being black or other minority.........

[nilram]

22. This lawsuit will be delicious.

Can't wait.

[onenote]

23. Is there any verification of this story?

The reason I ask is that this appears to be the same attorney who is the subject of another somewhat disturbing story from 3 weeks ago:
https://abovethelaw.com/2025/08/former-biglaw-associate-alleges-partner-used-racial-slur/

[SunSeeker]

38. Well, it obviously happened since it's on video. But he may be experiencing a mental crisis.

From your article, he apparently threatened his firm by saying he would call Trump to help him against them, then he inexplicably gives "power of attorney" to a retired partner of the firm:

Since his first post, Bryant has asked for a $30 million settlement but also said he’s not going to federal court and imposed a deadline of tomorrow morning or “I will solicit the help of the President, Donald J. Trump to strike an adequate deal with Covington…. It is actually my faith that the Commander-In-Chief will hear of this story and provide the leverage I need to effect needed change in your system, a system which the President has rightfully began to investigate.” For the record, Trump actually targeted Covington already — they didn’t cave and signed the amicus brief supporting the firms fighting back. Bryant’s since announced that he’s “hereby delegating my power of attorney” to a retired Covington partner.

Sadly, he reminds me of a lawyer I knew who had a mental breakdown. He could be suffering PTSD from his army days.

It could explain the exchange seen in the video where the officers appear to say he is insane and Bryant shouts out, "I am not crazy! I am totally sane!"

I doubt these federal officers are trained to deal with someone undergoing a mental health crisis. I guess it's a minor miracle they didn't shoot him.

[Cha]

24. WHY!

[Joinfortmill]

25. I'm sorry this happened to him. But glory be their

sorry asses are about to be whipped.

[ultralite001]

27. Here's a link to that X feed that doesn't monetize the Musketeer...

https://xcancel.com/LongTimeHistory/status/1960087849149043063#m

[SunSeeker]

30. This is a really sad story, on so many levels. He appears to be having a mental health crisis.

Last edited Tue Aug 26, 2025, 12:42 AM - Edit history (1)

Yes, he was probably racially profiled, but he also appears to be going through a mental health crisis and recently lost his corporate law job at Covington. I Googled him and it appears he was active on the r/biglaw subreddit. There are lots of comments there about this, and there is a general consensus he is undergoing a mental health crisis, maybe relating to PTSD he developed while serving in the infantry before he went into law.

https://www.reddit.com/r/biglaw/comments/1mjzw1i/watching_paul_bryant_experience_a_mental/

https://www.reddit.com/r/biglaw/comments/1n07oct/holy_shit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/biglaw/comments/1n07oct/comment/napaoyi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button


Super sad. Considering how ill prepared these federal agents are at dealing with someone undergoing a mental health crisis, it is a minor miracle they didn't shoot him.

[stopdiggin]

32. I keep hearing mention of 'magazine' (by speaker in vid clip)

Does that mean this man was carry a weapon ? Or is some other 'magazine' being referenced here?

[Initech]

33. This man and his goons are totally beyond fucked in the head.

How anyone can be OK with what ICE is doing is absolute madness. If we get out of this, we need to hold our own Nuremberg trials and we need prosecutions.

[lostincalifornia]

34. Not only those who assaulted him, but also trump and his administration need to be sued

[Figarosmom]

35. Why are the cops in ybe cities doing

The same as ICE and the other alphabets? Why are they complying with this?

[Henry203]

37. Paul Bryant wrote an unbelievable screed on Linked in.

My friend sent it to me, it was unreal. No one believed anyone would put something like that on linked in. Google Paul Bryant Covington and burling and the story will come up.

[elleng]

40. Covington & Burling, the white shoe law firm where former attorney general Eric Holder serves as senior counsel

and has conducted exorbitantly priced diversity audits for corporate clients, is facing accusations of racism from one of its former associates.

Paul Bryant, a West Point graduate, Columbia Law School alumnus, and self-described "Black, Neurodivergent former 5th year" Covington associate, detailed the claims in a series of colorful LinkedIn posts. He alleges that a Covington partner, Kyle Rabe, "called me a 'n—r' after I defended myself and my reputation in response to him trying to pressure me to quit."


Rabe did so, Bryant says, at the urging of "Covington's management" after Bryant told another partner that he "would not write SEC disclosures in support of anti-minority and anti-women based initiatives." Bryant says he "almost went away silently" after Covington offered to give him "resume writing services" as part of a settlement.

https://freebeacon.com/democrats/eric-holders-law-firm-accused-of-racism-by-former-associate/https://freebeacon.com/democrats/eric-holders-law-firm-accused-of-racism-by-former-associate/

[Henry203]

48. I work in big law

And did a project there. I also have been to their offices.

[elleng]

77. I worked for the govt, and became familiar with them

as they represented major parties in proceedings in which I worked. EVERYONE worked hard.

[AdamGG]

46. Could that be even worse?

If this wasn't random race based harassment, but they were targeting a specific individual who they thought was pursuing a 'woke agenda'?

[stopdiggin]

75. not a woke agenda

Bryant was only recently threatening to 'enlist' President Trump - in his conflict with previous employer. Not woke, so much as confused and all over the map. His, former, colleagues appear to be concerned ...

[ificandream]

86. Is there a link for this? I'd love to read it.

[AdamGG]

43. The tripled ICE goon squad level hasn't even started yet

The other day, I was getting spammed by Google ads offering a $50,000 bonus to sign up for ICE and "come protect the homeland." This is going to get a lot uglier when this gestapo has 3 times the numbers that they do now.

Blue state governors should prepare ways to coordinate local police to oppose them.

[DET]

45. Some Facts

‘Trump has manufactured a "crime crisis" in D.C. to send federal troops and heavily armed agents into Black neighborhoods.’

First, as far as I can tell, Trump’s Gestapo is mostly guarding the tourist sites, not the eastern part of the city where most of the crime occurs.

Second, this guy was detained in Logan Circle - which is not a ‘Black’ neighborhood. It never was. Logan Circle is a complex of beautiful Victorian homes which fell into disrepair after the 1968 riots. People eventually started buying these properties and renovating many into multi family condos. Others were brought back to their former glory as single family homes. But the crime problem remained, especially burglary and prostitution. Eventually, an upscale grocery moved in and the neighborhood changed into the very expensive, trendy destination that it is today.

I don’t doubt that this incident occurred and that this guy was racially profiled by Trump’s goons. But it doesn’t help to misrepresent the facts surrounding the incident.

[B.See]

54. Oh. So this Black man was accosted by

20 members of "law enforcement" NOT in a Black neighbourhood, but while in the "never was Black" neighbourhood of Logan Circle, "a complex of beautiful Victorian homes" some of which "were brought back to their former glory as single family homes."

[DET]

76. My Bad (I Guess)

I apologize for inadvertently offending you. As I said, ‘I don’t doubt that this incident occurred and that this guy was racially profiled by Trump’s goons.’ I repeated the phrase ‘Black neighborhood’ since that was term used in the OP’s post. I assume that the phrase refers to a neighborhood that is heavily populated by Black people. Logan Circle is not, and never was (to the best of my knowledge). I waxed a little nostalgic describing the history of the neighborhood since my husband and I used to own property there and lived through it. Objectively, the original Victorian homes are truly beautiful. Again, I did not mean for my post to sound racially insensitive and I apologize if it did.

[B.See]

83. I wasn't offended. My point was

(I guess) that the racial makeup or economic status of ANY neighbourhood should have nothing to do with who (of ANY race) gets to walk therein, unmolested, unaccosted, and unchallenged, with the possible exception of a gated community or a 'private' street. And even then there are postal workers, services, delivery drivers, etc.

And while it may not have been your intent, your reply did sort of come off like an explanation as to why he was accosted.

Anyway, apology accepted.

[Bayard]

47. DWB

Driving While Black.

We need some new ones these days....

DWH--Driving While Hispanic

[dlilafae]

56. It's time to carry the problem

to his final resting spot (the Pen). If we do not, we Democrats will be manhandled next. We will have to physically end this criminal's tyrannical regime.

[Torchlight]

58. 'He was in a white neighborhood and looked uppity' will be federal policy soon.

Over the next three years, trump's going to dissolve the nation to the best of ability.

[Marthe48]

62. I hope he is a really, really good lawyer

and cleans traitor's clock.

I hope Mr. Bryant is entirely the wrong guy to attack and brutalize.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

63. This attorney has a great case

These idiots picked on the wrong person

[LetMyPeopleVote]

64. This attorney has a great case

These idiots picked on the wrong person

[Arazi]

65. Has any followup been posted on this yet? Charges? Or a lawsuit?

[pnwmom]

66. I can't see anything except reports from 3 weeks ago about his conflicts with his former law firm,

which mentioned his PTSD. I wonder if there's more to all of this.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220587878

[Arazi]

67. Hmm, a mental health crisis shouldn't have any bearing on this current situation

Unfortunately MAGAts (and this DOJ) will manufacture some relationship.

[pnwmom]

70. People in a mental health crisis can do things that would get police attention and//or intervention..

There is no way to know yet in this particular situation.

[B.See]

85. What they'll do is manufacture bullshit out of thin air,

as they have done before and ALWAYS do.

They don't need any semblance of truth because there are always those looking to excuse and rationalize this kind of shit.

[Rebl2]

68. I am

surprised that he was allowed to speak out to the person asking him questions for that length of time.

[Martin68]

69. We need to push back hard with every means at our disposal. We have entered very dangerous territory here.

[pat_k]

84. More background

This guy sparked my interest. There's some interesting background -- not that I know quite what to make of it all.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220587878

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220587878#post4