Attorney General Barr: “The Rule of Law Will Prevail”

Update on the Trump Administration’s efforts to efforts to keep American communities safe and put an end to the rioting, looting, and violence.

President Trump is committed to ensuring justice for all, and has directed his administration to spare no effort in the George Floyd case.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “This matter is being pursued by both the state and the federal government.  The state has filed second degree murder charges against one officer, and aiding and abetting charges against three other officers. As we typically do in cases such as this, the Department of Justice is conducting a parallel and independent investigation into possible violations of federal civil rights laws. The president has directed me to spare no effort.”

In order to protect the rule of law, President Trump is ending the senseless acts of anarchy which have hijacked the protests. Rioting, arson, looting, and violence will not be tolerated. 

• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “Unfortunately, the aftermath of George Floyd’s death has produced a second challenge to the rule of law. While many have peacefully expressed their anger and grief, others have hijacked protests to engage in lawlessness — violent rioting and arson, looting of businesses and public property, assaults on law enforcement officers and innocent people, and even the murder of a federal agent. Such senseless acts of anarchy are not exercises of First Amendment rights; they are crimes designed to terrify fellow citizens and intimidate communities.”

All major Federal law-enforcement components have been deployed and are working with the National Guard and local police to help keep our streets safe.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “The Department of Justice is working to restore order in the District of Columbia and around the nation.  Here in Washington, we are working around the clock with local police, the citizen soldiers of the National Guard, and other federal agencies to provide safety and justice.  We have deployed all the major law-enforcement components of the department in this mission, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Marshals Service.  I thank them and all those working bravely and professionally to protect the District.”

There is clear evidence that radicals like Antifa have been involved in instigating violence in our communities.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “At some demonstrations, there are groups that exploit the opportunity to engage in looting.  And finally, at some demonstrations, there are extremist agitators who are hijacking the protests to pursue their own separate and violent agenda.”
• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “We have evidence that Antifa and other similar extremist groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions, have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity.  We are also seeing foreign actors playing all sides to exacerbate the violence.”

The Administration is working in real time to respond to outbreaks of violence, having already made 51 arrests for federal crimes tied to the violent rioting.

• ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: “Through the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, component field offices, and state and local law enforcement, we are receiving real-time intelligence, and we have deployed resources to quell outbreaks of violence in several places.  I urge governors, mayors, and other state and local leaders to work closely with the National Guard and with us.  The federal government has thus far made 51 arrests for federal crimes in connection with violent rioting.  We will continue to investigate, make arrests, and prosecute where warranted.”