A new report from the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday found that Attorney General Bill Barr has been pressuring federal prosecutors to bring aggressive charges against violent protesters across the United States, a push that some experts fear could have the effect of chilling constitutionally protected free speech.
The report explained:
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.
This demonstrates that Barr seeks to use the heavy hand of the federal government against the protests. It’s notable that while President Donald Trump and the attorney general have been clearly outraged by violence that has emerged from the protests — the vast majority of which have been peaceful — the federal government has done little to address the actual substance of the demands for racial justice from protesters. Continue reading.