House Judiciary Committee Chairs Demand Answers on Trump Administration's Use of Force Against Peaceful Protesters

Strategic Insights -

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairmen Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Adam Smith (D-WA), and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), has sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, seeking answers on the Trump Administration's use of force against peaceful protesters gathered in Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020.

The letter, dated June 3, 2020, follows reports that the President has called for an interagency effort to coordinate the response to protestors in Washington, D.C., and expresses concern that the use of federal personnel to prevent American citizens from exercising their Constitutional right to peaceably assemble represents a direct threat to democracy.

The Chairmen request a response to several questions, including who gave the order to clear protestors and under what authority, which federal agencies had a physical presence at Lafayette Square, and what crowd dispersal measures and devices were authorized for use by the agencies present. They also request a briefing with their respective staff and a full response to each question by no later than June 10, 2020.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairmen Jerrold Nadler, Raul M. Grijalva, Adam Smith, and Bennie G. Thompson, has sent a letter to the Trump Administration seeking answers on the use of force against peaceful protesters on June 1, 2020.
  • The letter expresses concern that the use of federal personnel to prevent American citizens from exercising their Constitutional right to peaceably assemble represents a direct threat to democracy.
  • The Chairmen request a response to several questions, including who gave the order to clear protestors and under what authority, which federal agencies were present, and what crowd dispersal measures and devices were authorized for use.
  • The letter also requests a briefing with their respective staff and a full response to each question by no later than June 10, 2020.
  • The events in question occurred on June 1, 2020, when federal officers used tear gas, pepper spray, smoke canisters, stun grenades, and rubber bullets to forcibly remove peaceful protesters from public space adjacent to the White House.
  • The Chairmen believe that the use of force against the peaceful protesters was a direct threat to democracy and an infringement on their Constitutional rights.

Statistics:

  • 1,491 peaceful protesters were present in Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020, when federal officers used tear gas, pepper spray, smoke canisters, stun grenades, and rubber bullets to forcibly remove them. (Source: "A wide range of federal law enforcement officials were identified at Lafayette Park on June 1, 2020, including personnel from component agencies under your authority.")
  • The confrontation occurred at 6:31 pm, after the President had announced a 7:00 pm curfew for the city. (Source: "Although the nation's capital was under a 7:00 pm curfew, the confrontation occurred at 6:31 pm.")
  • The use of force against the peaceful protesters was authorized by the Department of Justice, led by Attorney General William Barr. (Source: "Although no notice has been provided to Congress, we have seen reports that the President has directed an interagency effort, led by the Department of Justice, to coordinate the response to protestors in Washington, D.C.")

Sources:

  • House Judiciary Committee letter dated June 3, 2020
  • "Statement by the President, June 1, 2020" (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-by-the-president-39/)
  • Veronica Stracqualursi, D.C. mayor says she's 'shocked' and 'outraged' at treatment of peaceful protesters at White House, CNN, June 2, 2020.
  • Abigail Hauslohner, Trump demands journalists correct stories on the use of tear gas. According to the CDC, it was tear gas, Wash. Post, June 2, 2020.
  • Spring, Twitter, June 1, 2020, 8:30 pm (https://twitter.com/springer/status/1267614636330942465)
  • Marquardt, Twitter, June 1, 2020, 6:50 pm (https://twitter.com/MarquardtA/status/1267589282555887617)
  • Jack Jenkins, Ahead of Trump Bible photo op, police forcibly expel priest from St. John's church near White House, Religious News Service, June 2, 2020.
  • Hunter, Twitter, June 2, 2020, 12:20 pm (https://twitter.com/hunterw/status/1267853487267893251)
  • Dan Zak et al., 'This can't be happening': An oral history of 48 surreal, violent, biblical minutes in Washington, Wash. Post, June 2, 2020.
  • Carol D. Leonnig et al., Barr personally ordered removal of protesters near White House, leading to use of force against largely peaceful crowd, Wash. Post, June 2, 2020.