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RKP5637

(67,032 posts)
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 11:15 AM Sep 2020

Bill Barr Wants Protesters Charged With Trying to Overthrow the U.S. Government

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/09/bill-barr-protestor-prosecutions



Of all of Donald Trump’s servile employees willing to put his extremely fragile ego above the country, William Barr may very well be the most dangerous. (Well, tied with the guy who did a Facebook Live video telling the president’s supporters to prepare for an insurrection.) The thing about the attorney general is that he’s not just a sycophant willing to do Trump’s dirty work—he actually knows how to go about it. Apparently seeing himself as Trump’s personal lawyer in the mold of Roy Cohn, Barr has spent his time at the Justice Department discrediting the Mueller investigation; involving the DOJ in the quest to keep the president’s tax returns secret; running cover for Trump as he tried to extort Ukraine; interceding to change the sentencing recommendation for longtime Trump pal Roger Stone; running cover for Trump when he told his supporters to vote twice; and using taxpayer funds to shield the president from a defamation lawsuit related to a rape accusation against him. So, really, it was only a matter of time until the attorney general, aka the president’s consigliere, attempted to use the Justice Department to prosecute protesters with the dubious charge of attempting to overthrow the government.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Barr has instructed the country’s federal prosecutors to get aggressive when dealing with violent demonstrators, including “potentially prosecuting [protesters] for plotting to overthrow the U.S. government,” according to people familiar with the conversation. During a conference call with U.S. attorneys last week, Barr reportedly said that protests across the country could get worse in the run up to the November election, and encouraged the attorneys to “seek a number federal charges, including under a rarely used sedition law, even when state charges could apply.”
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RKP5637

(67,032 posts)
2. Yep, he's going down his list looking for something to stick. How best to enrage the stupid people
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 11:28 AM
Sep 2020

in the US population.

NCjack

(10,279 posts)
5. I want AG Barr charged for impersonating an Attorney General
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 11:43 AM
Sep 2020

and attempting to destroy the Constitution.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. Some violent protesters, absolutely. An honest government would.
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 12:14 PM
Sep 2020

With this corrupt one, though, it would be revealing one way or another.

RW violence is far, far, far, FAR more common than left wing. Just look at who blows up and drives trucks into people, or that 67-year-old jerk who attacked a 13-year-old girl with his flag pole. A general truism among terrorism experts is that LW terrorists blow up empty buildings, RW blow up people. But when's the last time anyone's even heard of any significant LW domestic violent terrorism? It's like 2% of all vs 94% committed by RW (non-Muslim) domestic terrorists. And RW violence is going up.

Anything that could backfire by focusing intense press attention on who's behind the increasing political violence would be highly desirable. Creating civil unrest and fear is a classic fascistic takeover tactic.

RKP5637

(67,032 posts)
7. Yes, agree, absolutely, as generally it's the wacky RW that incites violence. Of course,
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 12:18 PM
Sep 2020

somehow, the wrong people would likely get charged and it would turn into another Trump/Barr circus.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
10. Yes. Let's hope a national spotlight on Barr's circus would
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 12:38 PM
Sep 2020

backfire by being turned on what the ringmasters are up to. After all, they are completely unprincipled and are ruthlessly (and desperately) misusing their power in pursuit of more power.

We need more who didn't bother to vote before to see and be alarmed. The more that wannabe authoritarian cabal exposes themselves before the election the better.

Hotler

(11,353 posts)
11. Maybe he should remind himself how the people of Europe and other parts of the world...
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 01:03 PM
Sep 2020

"got aggressive when dealing with" fascist dictators and their henchmen.

RKP5637

(67,032 posts)
13. History repeats, but I hope the US is beyond that, the majority. But then again
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 01:13 PM
Sep 2020

under the Trump administration the majority is ignored.

Stuart G

(38,365 posts)
14. Perhaps Barr should read the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Sun Sep 20, 2020, 01:15 PM
Sep 2020

Often the protests become violent... because of the police.

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