Trump Authorizes Federal Government to Arrest Anyone Who Vandalizes, Destroys Statues On Federal Property

Epoch Times ^ | 06/23/2020 | Zachary Steiber

[SeekAndFind]

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he’s issued an executive order authorizing the federal government to arrest any person who vandalizes or destroys a monument or other federal property.

The wrongdoers will face up to 10 years in prison, Trump said in a social media statement.

“This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused. There will be no exceptions!” the president said.

Prosecutors can use the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act or other pertinent laws. The act, passed in 2003, says that people who willfully try or successfully injure or destroy any structure, plaque, statue, or other monument on public property commemorating service in the armed forces of the United States shall be fined, imprisoned up to 10 years, or both.

“Numerous people are in jail, or are going to jail today,” Trump told reporters outside the White House Tuesday morning before leaving for Arizona.

“We’re looking at long-term jail sentences for these vandals and these hoodlums and these anarchists and agitators. Call them whatever you want, some people don’t like that language, but that’s what they are. They’re bad people. They don’t love our country.”

The order reinforces existing law, Trump asserted.

Two people were arrested while U.S. Park Police prevented vandals from toppling a statue of Andrew Jackson near the White House late Monday, a spokeswoman told The Epoch Times.

Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt condemned those involved, describing them as anarchists and criminals.

The Lincoln and World War II memorials were previously defaced, he said.

“Across the country, some elected leaders of our cities have expressed enthusiasm and support for these criminals, exhibiting an undeniable unwillingness to protect law abiding citizens and their property,” he said on Twitter.

[SmokingJoe]

There is already a law that makes wanton destruction of federal property a felony. But then Christopher Wray is too busy plotting how to take down Trump and his associates to actually arrest any BLM/Antifa terrorists.
What is the use of the FBI?
Wray should have been dismissed long ago.

[PghBaldy]

So they will just go after the white criminals? Not surprising since Kim Kardasian & Jared Kushner would be upset otherwise.

[Cobra64]

Since cops and the military are “evil” in the eyes of the dems, it could get any worse if they just shoot the vandals and save everyone a lot of grief.

[Cobra64]

Wanna stop this crap? And anyone caught burning the American Flag should himself be set on fire on the spot. Harsh measures prevent bad actions.

[Cobra64]

I tend to agree, but maybe it’s a local/state/federal jurisdictional crime issue.

[Cobra64]

In other words apparently, the local cops were not enforcing their own local laws and Trump has to step in with the Feds. Sad.

The next time that police commissioner, mayor, or governor is up for election, The Stupid Party should point out the irresponsible actions of these individuals.

[JamesP81]

“Should be illegal to do so no matter the property.”

It is, but when the states and localities won’t enforce the law, the federal authorities can at least enforce federal law on federal property.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Someone should point this...if arrested on fed charges and convicted...you don’t go back to your old job or lifestyle that easily.

As Mark Steyn has observed, "the process is the punishment." Just paying to defend themselves against the charges will bankrupt their parents. And if they get convicted of a felony, even if the punishment is mitigated, their lives will never be the same.

[caww]

[aimhigh]

The Feds have a 98% conviction rate

That may be a good percentage, or, it indicates they only prosecute the worst of the worst cases and dismiss the rest.

[DiogenesLamp]

That may be a good percentage, or, it indicates they only prosecute the worst of the worst cases and dismiss the rest.

There is an additional reason I don't see mentioned. I have a friend that actually went through this process during the Clinton Administration.

He said they threatened to bankrupt him and put his family out on the street if he didn't plead guilty. He said they told him that if he beats the initial charge, they will file a new charge against him, and they will grind him into the dust financially. They will deny him his Federal pension (he was a federal employee) and still put him in jail.

They said that if he would just agree to plead guilty, he could keep his pension and his wife and kids could keep their house. He would serve a few years and then be released.

He plead guilty.

For more background, he claims his boss did what he was accused of doing, and he proved it to the federal prosecutors. They said they didn't care. His boss was black, and they weren't going to prosecute him, but they had to prosecute somebody, so he was it.

[magna carta]

daaaaang-10 years should be plenty of time to read about America’s great heroes

[HypatiaTaught]

So this is what we have come to.

States and local authorities lets all Hell Break Loose.

Damn Dirty Rats.

[Pining_4_TX]

I like Mayor Daley’s solution better:

“I have conferred with the superintendent of police this morning and I gave him the following instructions, which I thought were instructions on the night of the fifth that were not carried out. I said to him very emphatically and very definitely that [he should issue an order] immediately and under his signature to shoot to kill any arsonist or anyone with a Molotov cocktail in his hand in Chicago because they’re potential murderers, and to issue a police order to shoot to maim or cripple any arsonists and looters—arsonists to kill and looters to maim and detain.”
Mayor Daley April 1968

[Bonemaker]

They didn’t already have the authority? Get the Marshals, FBI, ATF etc out of their cubicles already.

[98charlie]

Believe it or not alot of federal agents have their hands tied by policy. Policy supercedes the law. Trump just overrid policies that would prevent a federal agent from making an arrest for this crime.

[98charlie]

Depending upon which agency one works for they may not have the authority. For instance Border Patrol agents sent to DC had to be deputized before they could make an arrest.

[metmom]

Good move.

He takes care of federal lands and leaves the private and other properties under local jurisdiction.

Then people can see and contrast between a president who takes action and the useless dems who do nothing.

[piasa]

Fun idea... monuments with cattle grid decking around them for rioters to attempt to cross. It could be an entertaining reality show, we could bet on how long it takes for one of the rioters to try to urinate on it, and on how far he jumps or whether there will be smoke.

[TheConservativeTejano]

Should be illegal to do so no matter the property.

Partner, anyone who is found looting and destroying property will be shot on sight.

This is the way it used to be and this was understood by everybody. I guess nothing is taught to these rioters and looters anymore.

Put these signs up so that these looters, rioters, stealing property and destroying property will not be tolerated at all and you will be dead if you do so.