Earlier this week a group of 84 members of Congress sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking if the department plans to pursue an investigation against protesters who sabotaged pipelines and equipment last year in an effort to block the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The letter also asks whether “attacks against the nation’s energy infrastructure” fall under the DOJ’s “understanding of 18 U.S.C. 2331(5). That’s the section of the U.S. code which defines “domestic terrorism.”
(5) the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
The letter states that the members of Congress are not trying to punish legitimate protest but are focused on “violence toward individuals and destruction of property.” And there was some of both during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. One individual was charged with attempted murder after she fired a handgun when officers attempted to arrest her. Those charges were dropped but federal charges were filed and she is scheduled to go on trial in January 2018. From Vice News
Police allege she resisted arrest by tucking her arms under her body, and in the struggle that ensued, they heard two gunshots ring out, and saw the ground near one officer’s left knee “explode.” Officers say they grabbed a gun from her left hand and handcuffed her…
On the way to jail, Fallis “made the statement that she was trying to pull the gun out of her pocket and the deputies jumped her and the gun went off.” She also allegedly told probation and parole officers that they were lucky she didn’t shoot “all you fuckers.”
That was the single most violent action taken by protesters but there was also significant property damage including multiple acts of arson and a campaign of sabotage which two protesters, Jessica Reznicek and Ruby Montoya, later admitted to carrying out. As recently as August, the FBI was still investigating that case.
Hot Air – John Sexton – 10.27.2017
Posted by: Nelson Bailey
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