“Portland post riots. June3, 2020” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by drburtoni
Two Republican senators suggested stopping federal aid, including coronavirus emergency funding, to cities and states that do not prosecute people who were arrested for crimes committed during the riots.
They had a choice, but they decided to allow lawlessness and destruction throughout their cities – putting all resident and business owners at risk.
Don't give them a damn dime! 😉
GOPs want Barr to block covid aid to cities that don't prosecute riotershttps://t.co/HMVSvi5cJn
— NWrain (@nwgoboating) August 5, 2020
Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia submitted the Holding Rioters Accountable Act of 2020, which would grant Attorney General William Barr the authority to stop up to 10% of Justice Department grants in cases where prosecutors are “abusing prosecutorial discretion and failing to prosecute crimes arising from riots and other violent protests.”
“What was once peaceful protests have turned violent — even deadly,” Cotton shared in a statement Tuesday. “We should do everything in our power to stop these riots and help support local law enforcement.”
No more federal support for intentional non-prosecution of rioters
In Portland, a local prosecutor dismissed charges of 59 people connected to the riots, including 9 cases involving felony charges.
This negligence is unacceptable.
Read how @SenTomCotton & I are moving to stop biased prosecutors ⬇️ https://t.co/2D2BdukoBx
— Senator Kelly Loeffler (@SenatorLoeffler) August 5, 2020
“In many cases, local officials and prosecutors have turned a blind eye and allowed the chaos to continue,” Loeffler stated. “In Portland, a local prosecutor dismissed charges on 59 individuals connected to the riots, including nine cases involving felony charges such as arson and theft. Protesters across the country have thrown rocks through store windows, set fire to construction sites and spray-painted buildings. This cannot stand. We need to take action to protect businesses and ensure that those who seek to cause mayhem and damage are held accountable for their actions.”
The bill allows Barr to stop grants that are normally provided through the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, as well as the coronavirus-related emergency funding program. The money would be held back based on prosecutions initiated and not followed through by state and local prosecutors, district attorneys, and state attorney general offices.
Setting the criteria to determine the intention to prosecute
Barr’s office would have to provide some criteria for determining whether a prosecutor had an intention to not charge someone who was part of a riot or violent protest. An intention not to prosecute might be hard to prove. The criteria would have to be predictable enough to decide whether there was an intention to side with the accused.
Loeffler, a first-term senator, has also brought forward bills that would make it a federal crime to damage or loot certain commercial properties during a riot, together with another bill to improve federal sentencing guidelines for people convicted of criminal gang activity.
