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

"Trump DOJ's Guilty Verdicts Send a Stark Message: Politicized Prosecutions Won't Pay"

The acquittal of Sidney Reid, charged with assaulting an FBI agent during an immigration enforcement protest, has sent a clear message to the Trump administration and its Department of Justice: politicized prosecutions won't fly in courts. The case is just the latest example of grand jurors rejecting indictments sought by the DOJ, particularly when it comes to allegations of assaulting law enforcement.

The DOJ's decision to move forward with a misdemeanor prosecution against Reid, despite three consecutive declines from grand juries to approve a felony indictment, was seen as an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate critics. However, a jury ultimately rejected the charges, striking a blow against the administration's efforts to use the justice system to quash opposition.

In another notable case, sandwich thrower Sean Dunn is also facing a misdemeanor charge after prosecutors failed to secure an indictment. His lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the charge, arguing that the prosecution is "a blatant abuse of power" and driven by retaliatory motives.

These cases are part of a growing pattern of grand jurors rejecting indictments sought by the DOJ in connection with protests against the administration's abuses of power. The stakes are clear: while the standard to secure indictments may be relatively low, prosecutors must convince jurors beyond a reasonable doubt in any case that makes it to trial.

The verdict in Sidney Reid's case is a powerful message to the Trump administration and its lawyers trying these cases: politicized prosecutions won't pay. As long as we have a jury system, citizens will continue to rebuke such efforts through speedy acquittals. The DOJ would do well to take note of this trend and rethink its approach to prosecuting critics and opponents.

In related news, several other high-profile cases involving Trump critics are set to go to trial, including those against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The verdict in these cases will likely be closely watched, and the outcome could have significant implications for the Trump administration's reputation and legacy.

this case is a total game changer , the fact that grand jurors kept rejecting indictments against protesters means the DOJ needs to think twice before trying to silence dissenting voices...and let's be real, who do they think they're dealing with here? politicians are always gonna try to use the system to their advantage, but a jury is like, "nope, not buying it" . and can we talk about how these cases are just another example of Trump's administration trying to make an example out of people who dare to speak up?

Man I'm just relieved that Sidney Reid got acquitted . It's like the system is supposed to protect people from being silenced or intimidated, you know? Prosecutors can't just try to muscle their way through a case like that. The fact that grand jurors kept rejecting those felony indictments says something real about how much of an overreach this was. And now with Sean Dunn facing a similar charge... it's like the DOJ is throwing caution to the wind . I hope they take some time to re-evaluate their strategy, 'cause right now, it just looks like they're more interested in punishing people for speaking out than actually seeking justice

I'm seeing this trend play out more and more, and it's like, if the DOJ can't even get a felony indictment on someone who assaults an FBI agent, what's their next move? It's all about setting a precedent here - if they keep pushing these politicized prosecutions, they're just gonna end up losing in court and looking like they're trying to silence dissent. And let's be real, the whole thing is kinda suspicious when you see them go from grand jury decline to trial anyway... But hey, at least it's a reminder that we've still got some checks in place and a jury system that can hold them accountable if needed.

OMG I'm literally shook by this verdict Like, who tries to silence dissent with prosecution charges? The DOJ is trying to use the justice system as a tool of intimidation, but it's not gonna fly A jury rejecting those charges is like, "Uh no, we're not buying that"

And can we talk about how some politicians think they can just label someone a 'critic' and suddenly get immunity from prosecution? Like, come on guys, that's not how it works! The law is the law, regardless of who you are or what your title is

I'm also low-key excited that Sidney Reid and Sean Dunn got their charges dismissed Maybe this verdict will be a wake-up call for the Trump administration to rethink its approach to dealing with opposition. We need more accountability and less trying to silence dissent

gotta say, this whole thing is wild . I mean, you've got the DOJ trying to prosecute someone for assaulting an FBI agent during a protest and the grand jury goes "nah" three times . It's like they're trying to send a message that dissent won't be tolerated . But at the same time, it's also kinda cool to see the system working as it should . I mean, if prosecutors are gonna play by the rules and not try to silence critics, then that's a good thing . And with all these high-profile cases coming up, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out .

omg I just got a new phone and I'm still trying to figure out how to use it lol... like what's up with all these politicians getting in trouble? does anyone know how to take a selfie without looking all weird in the background? also, what's with all these protests lately? is everyone just really unhappy with the government?

omg just read about this case of Sidney Reid getting acquitted after DOJ tried to silence him protesting against admin abuses it's like they thought they could intimidate critics with politicized prosecutions but nope grand juries are not having it gotta give props to these jurors for standing up for freedom of speech and dissent

I'm kinda surprised that it took a jury to tell the DOJ that politicking with the justice system ain't cool , you know? I mean, if they really wanted to silence dissent, they shoulda just left those indictments alone. But now, I guess we got some closure on this whole thing and it's clear that nobody wants to mess with law enforcement in a violent way . The fact that these cases are part of a growing pattern makes me think the DOJ needs to get its priorities straight and focus on real crime-solving instead of trying to silence critics .

so it seems like the DOJ is getting a serious wake-up call about not trying to silence dissent and critics with politicized prosecutions . I mean, if grand jurors can just reject indictments like that, it's clear they're not going to be intimidated by the Trump administration's antics. It's all about holding those in power accountable for their actions, and I think this is a huge step forward for our justice system . Of course, there are more cases to come, but at least we can say that so far, justice has been served

I'm not surprised by the acquittal of Sidney Reid , it just shows that the system is still working as intended. These cases are like a wake-up call to the DOJ - they can't just bully people into silence and expect to get away with it. It's all about finding that thin line between dissent and danger. The fact that grand juries are rejecting these indictments says a lot about the administration's approach, and I think it's clear that politicized prosecutions aren't the answer . It's always gonna be tough for prosecutors to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, especially when you're dealing with passionate protests.

ugh man i'm so tired of this whole politicized prosecution thing it's like they think the justice system is just a tool to silence people who are speaking out against them newsflash: it's not gonna fly. every time we see these grand jurors rejecting indictments it's like a shot across the bow for the Trump DOJ - "hey, you can't just bully your way into a conviction" and now that Sidney Reid is acquitted, i'm hoping this trend continues and other high-profile cases like James Comey's don't go to trial. let's hope justice actually prevails in these cases

man I'm not surprised about this at all the trump DOJ has been super questionable from day one they're basically using the justice system to silence opposition and protect their own interests it's not right that they'd try to charge someone like sidney reid with a misdemeanor for assaulting an FBI agent especially when grand juries have already rejected felony indictments three times

these cases are just another example of how the DOJ is trying to use intimidation tactics to quash dissent and critics aren't afraid to speak out anymore it's actually kind of inspiring to see grand jurors rejecting these charges because they're not buying into the trump administration's narrative

the thing is though the stakes are high in cases like this especially when you've got high-profile figures like james Comey and letitia james facing trials for their actions as critics of the admin it could get really interesting and potentially damaging for the trump rep

The DOJ's trying to silence dissent but it backfired big time ! Sidney Reid's acquittal is a huge slap on the hand to their whole politicized prosecution strategy #JusticeSystemMatters. And let's be real, if Sean Dunn gets off with a misdemeanor charge too, that's just another nail in the coffin for their efforts to intimidate critics #NotGonnaHappen. The DOJ needs to rethink its approach and remember, a jury system is all about holding people accountable, not just politicians ! The verdicts in these cases are sending a clear message: you can't silence dissent with the justice system #TrumpAdministrationProblems.

I'm not surprised by this verdict tbh it shows that grand juries are not afraid to stand up against the DOJ when they think someone is being unfairly targeted. The DOJ needs to rethink its approach to prosecuting critics, instead of trying to silence dissent. Prosecutors need to focus on seeking justice, not just following orders from the administration. It's good that we have a jury system in place to ensure accountability and protect citizens' rights

I gotta say, this whole politicized prosecution thing is getting outta hand. Like, what's next? Silencing dissent with a felony charge? It's crazy how the DOJ thinks they can just intimidate critics and get away with it. Newsflash: we've got a jury system for a reason! If you're trying to silence opposition, you might as well be wearing a ' Wanted' sign on your forehead. The fact that these cases keep getting tossed is sending a clear message: no more playing games, DOJ. Get back to doing your job and leave the politics at the door.

can't believe they think grand juries are gonna play along with trump's politics and what's up with this constant double standard - can't assault an FBI agent no matter the reason? and btw, sean dunn is a legend for throwing that sandwich

Can't say I'm surprised that grand juries are rejecting indictments like it's a national trend . But what really gets me is when prosecutors try to spin their actions as some kind of "blatant abuse of power" . Like, come on, if you're trying to silence dissent, maybe you should just admit it and own the fact that you're part of the administration . And honestly, who needs a fancy law degree or years of experience when you've got a Twitter account and a strong arm to intimidate critics? ‍

This is a major win for democracy and freedom of speech ! The stats are clear: since 2017, only 10% of cases brought by the DOJ in connection with protests have resulted in felony indictments 83% of grand jurors have rejected indictment requests . This trend shows that citizens won't stand down when they're being targeted for speaking out . The Trump administration needs to rethink its approach and understand that politicized prosecutions won't fly in the courts .

Here are some stats:

* 2017-2022: 83% of grand jurors rejected indictment requests
* 10% of cases brought by DOJ in connection with protests resulted in felony indictments
* 75% of acquittals were for misdemeanor charges

The justice system is designed to protect citizens, not silence dissenting voices . The DOJ needs to take note and adjust its strategy to ensure that prosecutors are focused on upholding the law, not intimidating opponents .

Let's keep the momentum going and hold those in power accountable!

Prosecutors can't handle dissent . Repeatedly trying to silence critics with weak charges is a lose-lose situation for them . The DOJ needs to rethink its approach before it becomes an embarrassment to the justice system .