Nation

Unrest In America: Over 300 people charged with federal crimes amid nationwide riots

Published

3 years ago

September 25, 2020

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that over 300 individuals in 29 states had been charged with federal crimes in connection to nationwide riots.

The charges range from attempted murder, assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson, burglary of a federally-licensed firearms dealer, damaging federal property, malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of a destructive device, inciting a riot, felony civil disorder, among others, according to the Justice Department.

The Justice Department noted that several individuals allegedly caused damage and destruction of local businesses and others where suspects allegedly violently attacked law enforcement. For example, on June 1 a Boston man shot at least 11 rounds towards officers under the guise of a peaceful protest.

The crimes range in possible jail sentences, however, the more violent and destructive crimes, such as assaulting a police officer could carry charges of up to 20 years. There were 35 suspects charged with assaulting a police officer and the like.

Moreover, 30 suspects were charged with crimes classified as “civil disorder,” some of them using social media sites to organize violence and destruction across the country. Additionally, a number of individuals were charged with burglary and carjacking.

Tense standoff between rioters and police at #DC #BLM march. A witness tells me a car entered the area where they were marching so the police began to move towards the car to clear a road for the group. One woman yelling here claims a cop touched one of them and things are heated pic.twitter.com/XUbLINad3t
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) August 29, 2020

The Justice Department’s announcement comes at a time when racial tensions and attacks on law enforcement are all too common. This week was no exception as rioters took to the streets of several major cities to protest the Grand Jury’s decision in the Breonna Taylor case. Amid the unrest, two Louisville, Kentucky police officers were shot and one suspect is in custody. The two officers are expected to survive.

Earlier this month, Attorney General William Barr explained that some of the violence originates from anarchist groups like Antifa and there’s evidence of their tracks in many of these cities facing the worst of the riots.

“I’ve talked to every police chief in every city where there has been major violence and they all have identified antifa as the ramrod for the violence,” Barr said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “They are flying around the country. We know people who are flying around the country.”

He continued, “We see some of the purchases they are making before the riots of weapons to use in those riots. So, we are following them.”

Nation

House GOP: Conservatives Paralyze Legislative Business

Published

1 hour ago

June 7, 2023

Alexander Carter

Conservatives within the House GOP are taking on party leaders by engaging in an unprecedented blockade, effectively paralyzing the chamber’s legislative business. The standoff began after a typically routine procedural vote failed on Tuesday, prompting conservatives to seize control of the floor.

At the center of the dispute is the debt limit deal struck between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden. Some conservatives feel that the procedures used to pass the deal in the House last week did not align with the agreement they had reached with McCarthy. This agreement granted conservatives more influence over decision-making and the operational procedures involved in moving the bill forward, and they now accuse leadership of violating these commitments.

The tension escalated when Freedom Caucus members and their allies joined forces with Democrats in voting against a rule that would have allowed several bills, including two addressing the Biden administration’s gas stove limitations, to reach the House floor. This marked the first time in two decades that a rules vote had failed.

Representative Matt Gaetz voiced his frustration, expressing concern that the fundamental commitments made to secure McCarthy’s speakership had been disregarded due to the debt limit deal. Gaetz also criticized the punishment meted out to Representative Andrew Clyde for his stance against the rule that allowed the debt limit increase.

According to reports from Fox News, Gaetz said, “I am very aggrieved at the punishment that was delivered to my colleague Andrew Clyde on his bill regarding pistol braces… for him standing with us and the votes we took against the rule that allowed the debt limit to be increased.”

Gaetz pledged to bring the House floor to a grinding halt, anticipating a prolonged shutdown.

“We took down the rule because we’re frustrated at the way this place is operating,” stated Rep. Gaetz. “We’re concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the speakership have been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal,” he added.

The era of the Imperial Speakership is OVER!

I’m done with their failure theater. https://t.co/Ceovz4C03U pic.twitter.com/7jNJpfRz4Z

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) June 6, 2023

The conservatives’ grievances extend beyond the procedural vote, with accusations that McCarthy has deviated from the undisclosed agreement made in January. Specific concessions that the dissident Republicans seek from McCarthy remain undisclosed, but they emphasize the need to restore unity and renegotiate their role within the party.

While McCarthy met with members of the Freedom Caucus, little progress was reported, and it remains uncertain if any votes will take place on the following day. The group insists that the restoration of a fair and inclusive process is essential to rectify the perceived failures of the previous week.

As the GOP leadership grapples with the repercussions of this internal standoff, the Republican majority’s effectiveness hangs in the balance. The path forward hinges on whether leadership is willing to reciprocate and address the concerns of the the dissenting group within the conservative ranks, ultimately determining the future of the party’s legislative agenda.

Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!