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

A string of grand jury rejections sent a stark warning to the Trump DOJ: its pursuit of politically motivated prosecutions is not foolproof. The latest case to underscore this reality is that of Sidney Reid, who was acquitted in Washington D.C. after three consecutive grand jurors refused to approve felony indictments against her.

In her defense, Reid painted the government as "not able to invoke fear" among citizens, calling out President Trump for his "irrational and unfounded hatred." Her lawyers further emphasized that while grand juries can reject cases, trial juries pose a more significant hurdle. "Our citizens will continue to rebuke the DOJ through speedy acquittals," they said.

This pattern of rejection is part of a broader trend in which Trump-era prosecutors are facing stiff resistance from jurors. Another notable case involves Sean Dunn, who was charged with misdemeanor assault for throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer. His lawyers argued that the prosecution was "a blatant abuse of power" and pointed to the political speech accompanying the alleged crime as the motivating factor.

The stakes go beyond individual cases, however. The Trump DOJ has been accused of using prosecutions to suppress dissent and intimidate critics. James Comey is expected to file a vindictive or selective prosecution claim against charges brought by Trump-installed lawyer Lindsey Halligan, who secured an indictment against him after President Trump included him on his revenge list.

This trend raises questions about the role of politics in law enforcement and the limits of prosecutorial power. While grand jurors have traditionally been seen as gatekeepers for serious crimes, their rejection of indictments this year stands out given their relatively low burden to secure charges. Trial juries, however, must navigate a higher standard – proving cases "beyond a reasonable doubt." The outcome in cases like Reid's and Dunn's suggests that the latter can still stand in the way of convictions for weak or politically motivated charges.

The implications for Trump-era law enforcement are clear: prosecutors must be prepared to face stiffer resistance from jurors. For now, at least, this trend offers a glimmer of hope for those targeted by the DOJ's selective prosecution tactics.

I think it's crazy how these grand jury rejections are sending a message to the Trump DOJ . I mean, they're trying to use prosecutions as a way to suppress dissent and intimidate critics, but it just ain't working out that way . It's like, if you're gonna charge someone with a crime, you gotta have a solid case, not just some weak stuff that's meant to send a message .

And let's be real, the fact that these cases are even going to trial is a good thing for democracy . I mean, if grand juries can reject indictments that easily, it means that the prosecution isn't as strong as they thought, and that's a healthy check on power .

It's also interesting to see how these cases are being framed by the defense attorneys - like, Sidney Reid is saying that President Trump's hate speech is what made her get charged in the first place . And Sean Dunn's lawyers are arguing that his alleged crime was just a case of political speech gone wrong .

Anyway, I think this trend is a big deal for the future of law enforcement and democracy . It means that prosecutors have to be more careful about who they're targeting and what cases they're bringing, and that's gotta be a good thing for everyone .

The Trump DOJ is getting served with a side of justice! Those grand juries are starting to stand up and reject indictments that aren't cut from the same cloth as, well, you know. It's about time we see some pushback against politicized prosecutions. Sidney Reid's case was particularly eye-catching – I mean, who throws shade at a sitting President? And let's not forget Sean Dunn, getting indicted for throwing a sandwich at a CBP officer... that's just ridiculous!

But seriously, this trend is sending a strong message: you can't just railroad people because they're unpopular or disagree with you. The stakes are high here – it's not just about individual cases, but about the limits of prosecutorial power and the role of politics in law enforcement. It's like, if the DOJ wants to get tough on "irrational and unfounded hatred," maybe it should lead by example?

So yeah, I'm all for this trend – it's a much-needed wake-up call! Maybe it'll inspire some reform and make our justice system a bit more... sane?

I'm thinking about how unfair it is when people get charged just because they're speaking out or taking a stand. It's like, they're not trying to harm anyone, but they're being targeted for saying something that might be unpopular with the powers that be. And it's not just Sidney Reid and Sean Dunn, there are so many others who've been through this too. The fact that grand juries are starting to push back against these charges is a good sign, though - maybe it means that people will start to hold those in power accountable for their actions.

this is so concerning the fact that grand juries are rejecting indictments left and right is a big deal. it shows that the government can't just bully people into confessing or getting charged with something they didn't do. but what really worries me is the whole "politics over justice" vibe going on here. i mean, if prosecutors are using their power to target people who are speaking out against trump, that's a huge problem . we need to make sure that law enforcement is holding up its end of the bargain and not just being used as a tool for political revenge.

i'm also loving the fact that sidney reid took on trump directly in her defense it takes a lot of guts to call out someone like him, especially when they're trying to use their power to silence you. anyway, this trend is definitely a good sign that people are pushing back against the DOJ's tactics and demanding justice be served

I'm loving the layout of that article . The use of short paragraphs and bullet points makes it super easy to scan . But seriously though, I think it's wild that grand juries are pushing back against the Trump DOJ's aggressive prosecutions . It highlights how politics can play into the justice system, and how important it is for prosecutors to focus on strong cases rather than trying to intimidate critics . The trend of trial jurors rejecting weak charges also gives me hope that justice will prevail for those who are being targeted unfairly .

I'm not surprised to see more grand jury rejections, it's like they're sending a message that certain cases just aren't gonna fly . The problem is, we're still not seeing any real accountability from the DOJ. I mean, what's being done to stop this kind of politicization in the first place? It's like they're hoping that if they keep churning out acquittals, people will forget about it . Meanwhile, cases like Sean Dunn's are still dragging on, and it's just frustrating . And don't even get me started on James Comey's vindictive claim against Lindsey Halligan... that's just a whole other can of worms . I guess what I'm saying is, while this trend might offer some hope for those targeted by the DOJ, we need to be looking at systemic changes too .

I mean, come on... this is like, super weird that grand juries in Washington D.C. are basically voting against indictments just because they don't want to? It's not like it's a huge deal or anything. And what's up with all these cases where people are getting charged for literally throwing a sandwich at someone? Like, can't we just move on from this already?

But seriously though, the fact that grand juries are rejecting indictments is like, super important. It means they're not buying what the prosecutors are selling, and it's giving people hope that they won't be convicted of ridiculous charges. And let's be real, if the DOJ can't even get a conviction, then they're basically useless.

It's also kind of fascinating to see how this trend is happening right under President Trump's nose. I mean, he's always going on about how he's a victim and that everyone's out to get him, but when it comes down to it, the law is still gonna hold people accountable for their actions. Even if those actions are super minor.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that this trend is like, a good thing? It means people are standing up for themselves and saying no to prosecution tactics that are just plain unfair. And who knows, maybe it'll even lead to some changes in the way law enforcement works.

omg u gotta believe what's happening with the trump DOJ!!! like they think they can just go after ppl without any evidence or something but grand juries are all "nah" to them lol 3 times in a row now and that sidney reid case is still lit. her lawyers are straight fire too, saying the gov't can't even make citizens fear them and it's not just her, sean dunn's case was also super sketchy with that sandwich thrower thing lol but seriously though, this trend is like a major wake up call for the DOJ. if they keep going down this path, prosecutors are gonna have to get their act together or else ppl will keep on rebuking them thru speedy acquittals

I'm seeing so many cases where grand juries just aren't falling for it . Like with Sidney Reid and Sean Dunn, they got rejected multiple times and still ended up being acquitted in court. It's like, we get it, politics can play a role in law enforcement, but that doesn't mean you can just ignore the facts of the case . Trial juries are already tough to crack, so if grand jurors can't even secure convictions... I think that's gotta be a wake-up call for the DOJ . And yeah, this trend does raise some big questions about prosecutorial power and the role of politics in law enforcement . But one thing's for sure: it's time to re-think those selective prosecution tactics .

This is crazy ! I mean, grand jury rejection is like, super rare and all but when it happens it's a big deal . Trump's DOJ is being called out for playing politics with the law and it's about time someone spoke truth to power .

The whole Sidney Reid thing is wild . She basically told them they couldn't scare her , and then she wins her case ! And Sean Dunn's case? For throwing a sandwich at some CBP officer ? That's just ridiculous . I mean, who tries to intimidate someone with their own food?

It's all about the power of free speech and holding those in power accountable . If the DOJ can't get convictions for weak cases, that means they're not being too selective or vindictive . And honestly? That's a win for everyone .

But let's be real, this is just the beginning . We need more transparency and accountability from law enforcement . It's time to take a closer look at who's being targeted by Trump-era prosecutors .

Ugh, my mind is literally blown rn ... like can't even believe what's going on with the Trump DOJ and their whole "selective prosecution" thing. It's all so messed up and it's like they think they're above the law or something? Newsflash, dude: grand juries are not a joke! And now that we're seeing this trend of them rejecting indictments left and right, I'm just so relieved for Sidney Reid and Sean Dunn... their cases were total abuse of power. And let's be real, the fact that James Comey is about to file a vindictive prosecution claim against Lindsey Halligan? That's just cherry-picked revenge. Prosecutors need to know they can't just use the DOJ to silence critics and target people for their politics. This whole thing is just so messed up...

So I guess what I'm saying is that if grand juries can reject indictments, it's not like they're doing their jobs or something . Three consecutive rejections? That's just weird. And don't even get me started on the whole Sidney Reid thing - "irrational and unfounded hatred" from Trump? Please, that's what happens when you're in power, not when you're a citizen trying to speak out . The problem is, prosecutors think they can just use their power to intimidate people and get away with it. Newsflash: jurors are onto that . And meanwhile, we've got these cases where people are getting charged with stuff that's basically just politics disguised as law enforcement . It's time for some accountability, imo .

just heard about Sidney Reid being acquitted in DC after 3 grand jurors rejected felony indictments and I'm like YAAAS girl!!! it's clear that Trump-era prosecutors are taking on some extra baggage - literally! I mean who throws a sandwich at a CBP officer? Sean Dunn, apparently. But seriously though, this trend of grand jury rejections is a major wake-up call for the DOJ and their attempts to suppress dissent.

I'm loving how Reid's lawyers are using Trump's own words against him it's a perfect example of how politics can play out in courtrooms. And let's be real, if the trial juries can still reject convictions for weak or politicized charges, then we've got some problems to fix. But hey, at least there's hope that this trend will lead to some accountability and maybe even reforms?

I'm kinda surprised that grand juries aren't being taken more seriously - like, they're supposed to have the final say on whether someone gets indicted or not. But it sounds like they're getting a bit too comfortable letting politicians off the hook? Anyway, it's good to see some pushback from jurors, especially when it comes to cases that seem super politically motivated. Maybe this means prosecutors are starting to realize they can't just bully people into conviction anymore...

I'm not surprised to see grand jury rejections piling up against Trump-era prosecutors. It's like they thought they could just pick and choose who to throw in jail without considering the public's opinion . The fact that Sidney Reid was able to get acquitted despite three consecutive grand jurors rejecting her case is a pretty clear message: we're not buying what you're selling, DOJ .

And let's be real, the whole thing with Sean Dunn throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer just doesn't add up . I mean, who throws a sandwich at someone? It sounds like a total setup to me .

The bigger issue here is that we're seeing the Trump DOJ try to use prosecutions as a way to silence critics and intimidate dissenters . That's not how democracy works, folks . The fact that grand jurors are rejecting these charges suggests that prosecutors need to take a step back and reconsider their approach .

I'm not saying we should let people off scot-free just because the government is having trouble prosecuting them . But at some point, you've got to respect the public's right to a fair trial and not try to bully your way into convictions .

Prosecutors gotta get their act together or risk getting shut down by juries ! Trump-era laws are like playing Russian roulette with the justice system – you never know when it'll blow up in your face !

I'm reading this and thinking about how long it took for things like this to come back around? It feels like we've been down this road before and we're basically seeing the same patterns play out again.

I think part of the issue is that prosecutors are getting too caught up in trying to fit cases into this narrative of " political correctness" vs "law and order". Newsflash: law and order isn't a thing anymore. We need to focus on actual justice, not just punishing people for being vocal.

And can we talk about how wild it is that James Comey is even considering filing a vindictive claim? Like what's next? A special prosecutor to investigate the investigation itself?

Anyway, I'm glad to see that at least some of these cases are making it all the way to trial. That's where the real justice happens, right?

I've been hearing rumors that the Trump DOJ is getting pretty anxious about their ability to get away with targeting people on trump's revenge list . Like, come on, they're not exactly playing it cool when grand juries are rejecting indictments left and right . And let's be real, Sidney Reid's defense team was HILARIOUS calling out Trump for his "irrational and unfounded hatred" . I mean, who does that? But seriously, this trend is a big deal - it shows that even grand jurors aren't afraid to say no to weak or politically motivated charges .

And don't even get me started on the Sean Dunn case... like, throwing a sandwich at someone and then prosecuting them for it? Give me a break . The whole thing reeks of Trump's ego and attempt to bully people into silence . Anyway, this whole thing is a major win for those who are sick of being targeted by the DOJ's selective prosecution tactics . Let's keep pushing back against these kind of abuses!

I don't get why they need to use the grand jury thingy if it just keeps getting shot down anyway Like, what's the point of even having that process if you're not gonna be able to get a conviction? It seems like the system is kinda backwards. And I'm not saying anyone's innocent or anything, but come on... if the government can't even get it right with the grand jury thingy, how are they supposed to figure out who's guilty of doing something bad?

And what's up with the whole Trump thing and the prosecutors trying to make cases against people just because they're mad at them? It seems like they're more worried about covering their own butts than actually solving crimes. And if that's the case, then maybe we should be having a bigger conversation about who gets to decide what's right and wrong in our country.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this whole thing just feels kinda messed up