Nation

‘CHOP’ Falls: Seattle Police Disband Autonomous Zone, Reclaim Precinct

Published

3 years ago

July 1, 2020

Seattle Police are reclaiming their east precinct after nearly a month of an anarchist takeover of the City’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The force began moving into the area Wednesday during the early morning hours, making 10 arrests, according to reports.

Formed in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, the area, known as ‘CHOP,’ or the ‘Capitol Hill Organized Protest’ was created to establish autonomy from the police. Since it’s founding, however, the area has been the scene of four shootings that resulted in two fatalities and has reportedly seen multiple incidents of sexual assault, violence, and robberies.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who once hailed the area as the “summer of love” ordered that the “unlawful assembly” be dismantled and instructed law enforcement to take immediate action Wednesday.

BREAKING: Seattle Police retake CHAZ pic.twitter.com/GOb9JKigIG
— Handbrake Poso (@JackPosobiec) July 1, 2020

“As I have said, and I will say again, I support peaceful demonstrations. Black Lives Matter, and I too want to help propel this movement toward meaningful change in our community. But enough is enough,” said Police Chief Carmen Best in a response to the Mayor’s decision.

A reported Twitter account for ‘CHOP’ has also been suspended. However, an earlier tweet showed that the leaders of ‘CHOP’ had acknowledged the end to their experiment saying, “Over the last two weeks, we achieved what no one thought possible. We successfully built a self-governing community and convinced city leaders to enact meaningful police reform, including substantial budget cuts to the SPD.”

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Former FBI official investigating Trump indicted on charges of working for Russian Oligarch he was investigating

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The former FBI official involved in the investigation into the made up Trump-Russia collusion has been charged with…wait for it…Russia collusion. Former FBI official Charles McGonigal was charged with “violating sanctions and collaborating with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.”

The Department of Justice made the announcement Monday. “Charles McGonigal, a former high-level FBI official, and Sergey Shestakov, a Court interpreter, violated U.S. sanctions by agreeing to provide services to Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams wrote in the released statement.

“Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael Driscoll noted in a statement. “There are no exceptions for anyone, including a former FBI official like Mr. McGonigal.”

According to federal prosecutors, McGonigal received “concealed payments” from a Russian intelligence officer in exchange for his help in having sanctions targeting Deripaska lifted. “McGonigal is being charged by the Federal District in Manhattan with additional counts relating to money laundering and conspiracy” reports National Review.

Both McGonigal and Shestakov had “previously worked with Deripaska to attempt to have his sanctions removed, and, as public servants, they should have known better,” Williams’ statement added.

McGonigal’s legal team announced their plans to enter a plea of not guilty before a federal court appearance. Seth DuCharme, head of McGonigal’s legal team old the New York Times “Charlie served the United States capably, effectively, for decades.”

“We have closely reviewed the accusations made by the government and we look forward to receiving discovery so we can get a view on what the evidence is upon which the government intends to rely” DuCharme added.

McGonigal was arrested at JFK Airport in New York City on Saturday upon returning from recent travels to Sri Lanka.