Not guilty verdict in ICE case sends stark message to Trump DOJ’s political prosecutions

Grand Juries Repeatedly Reject Indictments Against Trump DOJ's Targets, But Prosecutors Push Forward with Misdemeanor Charges

In a striking example of how President Donald Trump's Justice Department is using the legal system to silence critics and opponents, a grand jury refused to indict Sidney Reid for allegedly assaulting law enforcement during an immigration enforcement protest in Washington D.C. The verdict marks another instance where prosecutors chose not to seek felony charges against someone accused of violence against the government, instead opting for misdemeanor prosecution that doesn't require grand jury approval.

This pattern has been repeated several times in recent months, with grand jurors declining to approve felony indictments three times against Reid alone. Yet, rather than acknowledging potential problems with the case, prosecutors moved forward with a misdemeanor charge, which didn't pass the test of public scrutiny.

The stakes are high in this case, not just for Sidney Reid but also for Trump's second term and his DOJ's political prosecutions. When asked about her verdict, Reid stated that it shows "this administration and their peons are not able to invoke fear in all citizens." She also expressed sympathy towards the prosecutors, who must be burdened by Trump's irrational hatred for fellow humans.

Reid's lawyers emphasized that the DOJ can continue pushing forward with cases like this one but noted that trial juries will keep rebuking them through speedy acquittals. This reflects a broader pattern of power dynamics between government and citizens - as long as we have a jury system, our citizens will maintain their freedom to speak out against injustice.

Meanwhile, another notable case involving Sean Dunn, who was accused of misdemeanor assault after throwing a sandwich at an officer during a protest, is also moving forward with a prosecution despite the defendant's claim that it's a "blatant abuse of power."

The trend has been observed in several high-profile cases, including one involving James Comey and Lindsey Halligan's indictment against him in Virginia. The former FBI director is expected to file a motion claiming vindictive or selective prosecution.

In another instance, Lindsey Halligan secured an indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James on the orders of Trump after she brought a civil fraud case against him.

I'm kinda confused about this whole thing... like what's going on with these grand juries? Are they not doing their job or something? I mean, if the prosecutors are still pushing forward with misdemeanor charges despite the grand jury rejecting felony indictments, doesn't that just sound a bit shady? And what's up with this Sidney Reid lady saying she feels sorry for the prosecutors? Like, is she being sarcastic or what?

I was reading about how some people are using food as a form of protest, like throwing sandwiches at cops. Is that really a thing now? I've seen videos of it on YouTube and it looks kinda intense...

And can someone explain to me why we have grand juries in the first place? Like, what's their purpose again?

I'm kinda curious how prosecutors keep pushing forward with these misdemeanor charges despite grand juries repeatedly rejecting indictments... like, what's the real motive here? Is it just about silencing critics or is there something more to it? And I'm not buying that Sidney Reid was just a victim of 'fear' . She's got some serious beef with Trump and the DOJ, and I think we should be paying attention to this...

This whole thing with Trump's DOJ is just wild . They're basically using the justice system to go after people who speak out against them, and it's getting out of hand . I mean, what's next? Is anyone gonna try to silence me for critiquing some old cartoon from 20 years ago? The grand jury thing just doesn't feel right – if they're not gonna indict someone with felony charges, why bother even trying to bring them in at all?

And don't even get me started on the prosecution of Sean Dunn for throwing a sandwich . I get that protests can get heated, but shouldn't we be promoting civil disobedience over petty arrests? It's like they're more interested in silencing dissent than protecting people's rights.

I do love Sidney Reid's response though - telling the peons to stop being afraid and showing some solidarity with the prosecutors. And her lawyers make a great point about trial juries rebelling against these tactics . As long as we have a system of checks and balances, our freedoms will remain intact.

But seriously, this is some scary stuff . We need to keep an eye on how this all plays out and ensure that justice isn't just selectively served.

this just gets crazy - like what's going on with these prosecutors? They can't even get a grand jury to indict someone without pushing for some weak misdemeanor charge

anyway, I think it's wild that Sidney Reid is getting sympathy from the prosecutors but really, shouldn't they be working together to stop actual crimes, not just cover their own backsides?

also, can we talk about how this reflects on our entire justice system? like, we have a jury system in place to make sure our rights aren't trampled, but if it's being exploited by people in power... that's super concerning

and what's up with these cases going forward anyway? is it just about silencing critics or are there actual investigations happening?

idk how this is even happening... i mean, can't they just let people speak out against injustice without trying to silence them? it's like they're more concerned with "prosecuting" anyone who dares to disagree with trump rather than actually holding ppl accountable for crimes. and meanwhile, we have a justice system that's supposed to protect us from abuse of power... but instead, we're seeing the DOJ pushing forward with these low-level misdemeanor charges that aren't even being taken seriously by grand juries it's frustrating cuz i genuinely believe in the value of free speech and holding ppl in power accountable for their actions

ugh, this is getting crazy , like, how many times can the DOJ just keep pushing forward with misdemeanor charges when grand juries are clearly saying no to felony indictments? it's all about silencing critics and opponents, you know? but at the end of the day, trial juries are gonna have a say and we'll see plenty of speedy acquittals . meanwhile, sean dunn is getting prosecuted for throwing a sandwich (like, what's next, a water balloon?) and james comey is fighting back against selective prosecution . it's all about power dynamics, folks, but let's not forget that we have a jury system in place to protect our freedom of speech

I'm seriously concerned about the DOJ's actions here. It's like they're using the system to bully people who speak out against them . The fact that they can keep pushing forward with misdemeanor charges despite grand juries rejecting felony indictments is a huge red flag . It's not just about Sidney Reid, it's about the pattern of abuse of power and intimidation that Trump's DOJ is perpetuating .

And what really gets my blood boiling is that they're doing this under the guise of "upholding the law" . Meanwhile, the truth is that they're using their power to silence critics and opponents who dare to speak out against them . It's a gross abuse of authority and it needs to be called out for what it is .

We need to make sure that our justice system is truly blind to politics and corruption , not just words on paper . The fact that trial juries are rejecting these charges suggests that there's still some sanity left in the system . But we can't let up – we need to keep pushing for real accountability and reform .

can't believe these grand juries are just rubber stamping indictments for trump's targets they're basically letting the DOJ get away with silencing critics without accountability. i mean, if this is what's happening with people like sidney reid who were accused of violence against law enforcement, it's a major red flag. shouldn't prosecutors be more careful about the charges they bring to court? and meanwhile, we have these other cases where people are getting slapped with misdemeanor charges for standing up to trump's goons... it's just not right. our system is supposed to protect us from abuse of power, but when it's like this, i'm left wondering if that even matters

This whole thing sounds fishy to me. Three times grand jurors have rejected felony indictments for Sidney Reid but prosecutors still push forward with misdemeanor charges? That's not justice, that's just covering their own backsides. What's the real motive here?

And what's up with these low-level charges being filed against people who were exercising their right to free speech and protest? It feels like they're trying to silence critics of Trump's admin. And now we've got another case where Sean Dunn is being charged for allegedly throwing a sandwich at an officer... that sounds like BS to me.

I'd love to see some evidence or sources on this story before I start believing it. Where's the proof? What about the DOJ's track record on these cases? Can they back up their claims of "selective prosecution"?

Ugh, this whole thing feels super fishy . Like, what's going on with these prosecutors? They're not even trying to hide their bias anymore... I mean, who tries to silence critics and opponents like that? It's not like Sidney Reid was asking for it or anything. And now they're just moving forward with misdemeanor charges? That doesn't seem fair to me . I'm all for holding people accountable, but this feels like a total abuse of power . And what's up with the DOJ's obsession with targeting certain people? It's like they're trying to send a message or something... Newsflash: it's not working . The fact that trial juries are just going to keep rebuking them is just proof of how much of an issue this is . Can't we just focus on justice and fairness instead of politics?

what's going on with the trump DOJ? they keep pushing for misdemeanor charges instead of felony ones... seems like they're more interested in silencing critics than serving justice . and why do prosecutors just accept grand juries' rejection of indictments? shouldn't that be a sign to re-examine the case?

anyway, i think it's time for some real scrutiny on this administration... when was the last time they prioritized fairness over fear and intimidation? meanwhile, Sidney Reid is speaking truth to power and getting results . keep standing up, Reid!

just think about it... if grand juries can repeatedly reject indictments against people like Sidney Reid and Sean Dunn, what's the point of even having a justice system? it's all just a big show to silence critics and opponents of the current admin meanwhile, prosecutors keep pushing forward with misdemeanor charges, more for public image than actual intent the real question is: who benefits from this kind of selective prosecution?

I dont think its a bad thing at all that grand juries are rejecting indictments against these folks . I mean, we gotta consider both sides here - prosecutors have to make decisions based on what they know, and the justice system is not perfect . But when it comes to Sidney Reid, I actually feel kinda bad for her - she did get physically involved in a protest that got out of hand . Im sure its tempting for anyone who's passionate about a cause to want to take action, but sometimes thats just not the best way to go about it .

And yeah, the fact that prosecutors are pushing forward with misdemeanor charges despite grand juries declining felony indictments is like, totally understandable . The DOJ has its own goals and priorities, and they're not always gonna be in line with what we think is right or just .

But at the end of the day, I really do think this says something about our system - that we have checks and balances in place to ensure that everyone stays accountable . And even if prosecutors are pushing forward with cases they might not think are perfect, trial juries will still get a say in it . Thats how our democracy is supposed to work!

so i'm kinda glad that grand juries are rejecting those indictments but at the same time, it feels like prosecutors are just trying to sweep this stuff under the rug instead of really addressing the issues. I mean, what's the point of even having a grand jury system if they're just gonna override it all the time? And meanwhile, trump's DOJ is just piling on with these misdemeanor charges... it's just so frustrating

This whole thing is wild, right? So we got this pattern where prosecutors are like "we're gonna charge you with something" and then the grand jury is all "nah, I'm good" but they still go ahead and do it anyway? It's like they're just trying to silence people who speak out against them. And let's be real, if Trump was a regular person, he'd already be behind bars by now. But nope, because of his "irrational hatred for fellow humans" as one of the accused said, we get to see this whole show play out. It's like they think they're above the law or something. And what's up with these misdemeanor charges? Who gets charged with a felony but not actually tried as such because it's "too much work"? Give me a break!

man this is wild i'm still trying to wrap my head around it... so like if you're protesting and you get hurt by law enforcement, they just don't charge you with a felony? that doesn't seem right but at the same time, i feel bad for the prosecutors too. i mean, they have to follow the rules and all that... but it's crazy when you think about how this affects people who are already marginalized or vulnerable.

and can we talk about the fact that sean dunn just threw a sandwich at an officer? like, what even is that? but seriously, if he's being charged with a misdemeanor for something like that, it just highlights the systemic issues we have in our justice system. i mean, trial juries are supposed to be able to override prosecutors and all that... so if they keep rebuking them, maybe we'll get some real change.

anyway, i'm not going to take sides or anything, but as a student, i just think it's really important to stay informed about what's going on in our country. especially when it comes to issues like justice and equality...

Wow, this is so interesting ! Like what's going on here? Prosecutors keep pushing forward with misdemeanor charges despite grand juries rejecting felony indictments? That's like a total power struggle between government and citizens. I mean Sidney Reid said she feels sorry for the prosecutors but also kinda gloated about not being indicted, which is kinda weird . And what's up with this DOJ just doing whatever Trump says? It's like they're playing politics instead of justice .

I'M TELLING YA, THIS IS GETTING CRAZY!!! IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRUMP DOJ IS TRYING TO SILENCE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THEM! SIDEY REID GOT A GRAND JURY THAT REFUSED TO INDICT HER, BUT INSTEAD PROSECUTORS CHOSE TO GO WITH Misdemeanor CHARGES, WHICH IS LIKE, SUPER WEAK compared to felony charges. AND IT'S NOT JUST SIDNEY, THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN OTHER CASES TOO! IT'S LIKE THE DOJ IS PLAYING A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE WITH THE LAW, WHERE THEY TRY TO OUTSMART THE SYSTEM BUT ENDS UP GETTING CATCHED!

BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS, IF PROSECUTORS KEEP PUSHING FORWARD WITH Misdemeanor CHARGES WHEN GRAND JURIES REFUSE TO INDICT ON FELONY CHARGES, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO WEAKEN THE SYSTEM. AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SIDEY REID OR SEAN DUNN, IT'S ABOUT THE BROADER ISSUE OF POWER DYNAMICS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS. WE NEED TO KEEP SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS KIND OF ABUSE OF POWER!

can't believe this is happening in 2025 still think it's crazy that the justice system can be used to silence people who speak out against the gov. i mean, what's the point of having grand juries if they're just gonna rubber stamp indictments on trump DOJ targets? gotta wonder how much $$ is being thrown around for all these prosecution efforts meanwhile people like sidney reid and sean dunn are getting off scot-free