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"Grand Juries are Pushing Back Against Trump DOJ's Prosecution Power"
A growing pattern is emerging that is sending a clear message to the Trump Department of Justice: grand jurors will no longer be intimidated into approving indictments without cause. The latest example came in Washington, D.C., where Sidney Reid was acquitted on charges related to an immigration enforcement protest. This is not the first time grand jurors have rejected the DOJ's efforts to secure indictments against individuals protesting against President Trump's administration.
In fact, grand jurors have declined to approve felony indictments sought by the Justice Department at least three times in the case of Sidney Reid. Yet, instead of taking this as a sign that the prosecution was weak, the DOJ decided to move forward with a misdemeanor charge that did not require a grand jury approval. This decision has sent a message that even when grand jurors reject indictments without cause, prosecutors will still try to push through weaker charges.
The stakes are high in these cases, and the consequences of failure can be severe. As Reid's lawyers noted in court, "the DOJ can continue to take these cases to trial to suppress dissent and to try and intimidate the people." However, as long as there is a jury system in place, citizens will continue to rebuke the DOJ through speedy acquittals.
This pattern of grand jurors rejecting indictments without cause suggests that there may be a systemic problem within the Trump Department of Justice. The administration's use of prosecutorial power to silence critics and intimidate opponents is being pushed back by the very institutions meant to hold it accountable.
As one lawyer noted, "the government has chosen to bring a criminal case over conduct so minor it would be comical — were it not for the unmistakable retaliatory motive behind it." This is exactly what is happening in cases like that of Sean Dunn, who was accused of assaulting a Customs and Border Protection officer after throwing a sandwich at him. The prosecution's motives appear to be more driven by politics than justice.
The Trump administration's use of prosecutorial power is also being pushed back by other critics. Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to file a motion against the charges brought in Virginia, while New York Attorney General Letitia James is set to face trial on civil fraud charges that were secured after President Trump objected to her investigation.
In Maryland, another Trump critic, John Bolton, has also been charged with crimes related to his actions as national security advisor. These cases are sending a clear message to the Trump Department of Justice: grand jurors will not be bullied into approving indictments without cause, and trial juries will stand in the way of convictions for bogus or weak charges.
The acquittal of Sidney Reid is just one example of this growing pushback against the Trump DOJ's prosecution power. As long as there is a system in place to hold those in power accountable, citizens will continue to speak out against abuses of power and demand justice.
A growing pattern is emerging that is sending a clear message to the Trump Department of Justice: grand jurors will no longer be intimidated into approving indictments without cause. The latest example came in Washington, D.C., where Sidney Reid was acquitted on charges related to an immigration enforcement protest. This is not the first time grand jurors have rejected the DOJ's efforts to secure indictments against individuals protesting against President Trump's administration.
In fact, grand jurors have declined to approve felony indictments sought by the Justice Department at least three times in the case of Sidney Reid. Yet, instead of taking this as a sign that the prosecution was weak, the DOJ decided to move forward with a misdemeanor charge that did not require a grand jury approval. This decision has sent a message that even when grand jurors reject indictments without cause, prosecutors will still try to push through weaker charges.
The stakes are high in these cases, and the consequences of failure can be severe. As Reid's lawyers noted in court, "the DOJ can continue to take these cases to trial to suppress dissent and to try and intimidate the people." However, as long as there is a jury system in place, citizens will continue to rebuke the DOJ through speedy acquittals.
This pattern of grand jurors rejecting indictments without cause suggests that there may be a systemic problem within the Trump Department of Justice. The administration's use of prosecutorial power to silence critics and intimidate opponents is being pushed back by the very institutions meant to hold it accountable.
As one lawyer noted, "the government has chosen to bring a criminal case over conduct so minor it would be comical — were it not for the unmistakable retaliatory motive behind it." This is exactly what is happening in cases like that of Sean Dunn, who was accused of assaulting a Customs and Border Protection officer after throwing a sandwich at him. The prosecution's motives appear to be more driven by politics than justice.
The Trump administration's use of prosecutorial power is also being pushed back by other critics. Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to file a motion against the charges brought in Virginia, while New York Attorney General Letitia James is set to face trial on civil fraud charges that were secured after President Trump objected to her investigation.
In Maryland, another Trump critic, John Bolton, has also been charged with crimes related to his actions as national security advisor. These cases are sending a clear message to the Trump Department of Justice: grand jurors will not be bullied into approving indictments without cause, and trial juries will stand in the way of convictions for bogus or weak charges.
The acquittal of Sidney Reid is just one example of this growing pushback against the Trump DOJ's prosecution power. As long as there is a system in place to hold those in power accountable, citizens will continue to speak out against abuses of power and demand justice.