30 Members of Congress Ask for Same Consideration of Criminal Offenses that Acting AG Rosen Recommended for BLM Protesters and Consideration of All Other Relevant Charges
Stockton, CA – In response to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) sent a letter, signed by 29 of his colleagues, calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider bringing against each person connected with the attack the same criminal charges that Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen had encouraged be brought against Black Lives Matter protesters, in addition to all other applicable charges.
The letter states, “We write to request that the U.S. Department of Justice bring the perpetrators of the January 6, 2021, terrorist attack on the United States Capitol to justice. Not since 1814 has our country seen an attack of this scale upon the Capitol and direct challenge to the ideals and values that underly our democracy.”
The Members also highlight the September 17, 2020, memorandum issued by Acting Attorney General Rosen following the Black Lives Matter protests. In the memorandum, Acting Attorney General Rosen encouraged U.S. Attorneys to charge protestors with “seditious conspiracy” and outlined a number of other federal charges to be considered – many of which would apply to the terrorist acts committed on January 6th.
The letter continues, “Your September guidance, which includes reference to a number of crimes that expose defendants to lengthy sentences, followed a series of largely peaceful nationwide protests. Now you are faced with a direct attack on the seat of our nation’s government that ended in the death of five individuals, including a law enforcement officer who was protecting lawmakers and staff. As you move forward with investigating the terrorist attack on the Capitol, we expect that you will fully consider the criminal offenses you cited in your September guidance and all other relevant charges for each person connected with carrying out the attack.”
The following Members joined Rep. McNerney in sending the letter: Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), André Carson (IN-07), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Stacey E. Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), Mike Doyle (PA-18), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Grace Meng (NY-06), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Judy Chu (CA-27), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D- DC), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Peter Welch (VT-At Large), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), John Garamendi (CA-03), Marie Newman (IL-03), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Jahana Hayes (CT -05).
A full copy of the letter can be found here.
