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The Biden Administration Drops Dozens of Charges Against Violent Protesters in Portland
https://jonathanturley.org ^ | 5 MAY 2021 | JONATHAN TURLEY

Posted on 05/05/2021 11:03:51 AM PDT by Red Badger

We recently discussed how the plea agreement with a BLM protester (who tried to cut the brake lines on a police vehicle) may indicate a significant shift from the Trump Administration in prosecuting violent protesters. New figures out of Portland would indicate that there is such a major shift occurring. The Justice Department are dropping 58 of the 97 criminal charges brought after the Portland riots, including assaults on officers.

I previously criticized the federalization of these protest cases. Local police were clearly relying on the federal government — as opposed to their own local prosecutors — to address violent protesters. Yet I was also critical of the role of local officials in dismissing and even in some cases fueling such violence with their rhetoric or inaction. There is clearly a reluctance by many local officials to prosecute violent protesters. Indeed, cities like Atlanta have dropped charges against protesters. Most of the charges brought for violent protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd were dismissed.

One of those defendants who saw their charges dropped in Portland was David Bouchard who admitted that he put a Customs and Border Protection officer in a chokehold. Likewise, the Justice Department dismissed the charge against Charles Comfort who was indicted by a grand jury of civil disorder for twice charging at Portland Police Bureau officers and hitting them with a makeshift shield and kicking a third officer.

Once again, I remain opposed to using federal charges in many of these local cases, but the decision was to pursue these individuals in the federal system. Now they will walk without any prosecution. There are reportedly 31 deferred resolution agreements (DRA) signed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland, including 19 charged with felonies and some involving alleged assaults on federal officers.

We recently saw a belated change in the rhetoric of some leaders like Portland’s Mayor Ted Wheeler finally condemning anarchists (though he avoided specifically mentioning Portland’s homegrown Antifa group). While such leaders previously blamed the Trump Administration for the protests, they have continued unabated after the election, including continued rioting in Portland.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: antifa; bidenvoters; domesticterrorism; terroristinchief
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1 posted on 05/05/2021 11:03:51 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

Rule of law? What rule of law?


2 posted on 05/05/2021 11:05:42 AM PDT by Richard Axtell ( NO*)
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To: Red Badger

Criminals always go easy on other criminals.


3 posted on 05/05/2021 11:07:43 AM PDT by Seruzawa (The political Left is the Garden of Eden of Incompetence - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: Red Badger

If they drop the charges against them then they CANNOT lob the same charges at conservatives and MUST drop them as well.

It’s inequitable justice - by their own definition.


4 posted on 05/05/2021 11:07:48 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: Red Badger

he was out in office to weaken and undermine the country. Same thing the BurnLootMurder gangsters were hired to do. And by the same Puppetmeisters. So refusal to prosecute was inevitable.


5 posted on 05/05/2021 11:09:15 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians are not born, they are excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: Red Badger

These rioters will always be looking over their shoulder b/c the next administration will reinstate the charges.

lol


6 posted on 05/05/2021 11:13:29 AM PDT by Principled (Biden is illegitimate and whatever he says can be ignored. )
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To: Red Badger

Conflating the definition of the word ‘protester’ with that of ‘rioter’ is an indication of A BIG LIE.


7 posted on 05/05/2021 11:14:03 AM PDT by RideForever (One of the 'control group' ...)
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To: Red Badger

They’re giving more aid and comfort to the domestic enemy.

How many times can the sentence for the myriad acts of treason be applied following the trials and convictions of those in the ChiComjoe kakistocracy?

It would be better to just leave the carcasses of the convicted Demonicrat traitors to rot off the noose.


8 posted on 05/05/2021 11:14:27 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: Red Badger

Can’t they just add them to the insurrectionists charges? 😯


9 posted on 05/05/2021 11:16:34 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this?)
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To: Red Badger
"Once again, I remain opposed to using federal charges in many of these local cases . . . "

Perhaps as a general rule, but when the local DA refuses to prosecute anyone or enforce the law, don't the Feds often step in?
10 posted on 05/05/2021 11:17:40 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Red Badger

How many charges are being dropped against those who peacefully walked into the capital building?


11 posted on 05/05/2021 11:18:23 AM PDT by Revel
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To: Red Badger

They work for the democrats


12 posted on 05/05/2021 11:19:12 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Revel

0...........................


13 posted on 05/05/2021 11:19:35 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger

What about the maligned TRUMP supporters who got suckered into waltzing into the ‘CAPITAL HOLIER THAN THOU’ grounds - sucker punched again and put into a deeper hole in the ground for them I bet! JUSTICE - BS!


14 posted on 05/05/2021 11:20:38 AM PDT by ldish (WAS Jan 6th-Last OPP? NO-but we CONSERVATIVES now know we should've been there!)
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To: Red Badger

Going after those violent “protesters” hard-core!
Meanwhile, the FIB breaks down doors of obviously wrong people in Homer Alaska, looking for San Fran Nan’s laptop.


15 posted on 05/05/2021 11:27:56 AM PDT by vpintheak (Live free, or die!)
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To: Skywise

that’s now how evil regimes operate- what is good for them isn’t allowed for the opposition-


16 posted on 05/05/2021 11:40:43 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: Red Badger

Throw a pipe bomb at Federal officers at a Federal Court in Portland during a left wing protest... Misdemeanor at worse, perhaps time served, or charges dropped.
Walk into the US Capitol during a pro Trump protest on accident... Felony, lock em up for life.


17 posted on 05/05/2021 11:50:34 AM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
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To: Red Badger

Like they dropped the charges against David Baily, the Capitol cop who murdered Ashil Babbitt?


18 posted on 05/05/2021 12:01:36 PM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: Red Badger

i still remember when selective enforcement of the law was illegal...


19 posted on 05/05/2021 12:24:50 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there is no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
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To: Red Badger

Mission accomplished boys.


20 posted on 05/05/2021 12:25:10 PM PDT by Vision (Elections are one day. Reject "Chicago" vote harvesting. Election Reform Now. Obama is an evildoer.)
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