Next attorney general william barr holding a briefing after the death of george floyd. He discussed how federal Law Enforcement is continuing to protect americans but will actively pursue those who loot and cause violence. This is one hour. A. G. Barr good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for joining us at this remote press conference. Over the constitution avenue entrance to this building is a latin inscription that translates, everything is created by law and order. That ancient principal still holds true. Our free Society Depends on the rule of law, the assurance ordinary citizens can go about their lives without being subject to arbitrary violence or fear. When the rule of law breaks down, the promise of america does also. Our nation is confronting two serious challenges to the rule of law. The first is a longstanding one that was recently crystallized and driven home by the killing of george floyd in minneapolis. The video of the Police Conduct in this episode, as i said before, is harrowing. When you watch it, and imagine that one of your own loved ones was being treated this way, and begging for their life, it is impossible for any normal human being not to be struck to the heart with horror. This matter is being pursued both the state and the federal government. The state has filed already seconddegree murder charges against one of the officers and aiding and abetting charges against the other three officers. As we typically do in cases such as this, the department of justice and the fbi is conducting a parallel and independent investigation into possible violations of federal civil rights laws. The president has directed me to spare no effort. We are coordinating our work with the attorney general of minnesota and the department of justice typically lets the state go forward with its proceedings first. This afternoon, our United States attorney in minnesota and the fbi special agent in charge of our Minneapolis Field Office will attend a Memorial Service for mr. Floyd. Today is a day of mourning. And the day is coming soon, i am confident, when justice will be served. George floyds death was not the first of its kind and exposes concerns that reach far beyond this particular case. While a vast majority of Police Officers do their job bravely and righteously, it is undeniable that many africanamericans lack confidence in the american criminal justice system. This must change. Our constitution mandates equal protections of the laws and nothing less is acceptable. As the nations leading federal Law Enforcement agency, the department of justice will do its part. I believe Police Chiefs and Law Enforcement officials and leaders around the country are committed to ensuring that racism plays no part in Law Enforcement and that everyone receives equal protection of the laws. In october of 2019, the president established the First Commission on Law Enforcement since the 1960s, and i am meeting with them later this month and ive been talking with Law Enforcement leaders around the country. In the weeks and months ahead, we will be working with Community Leaders to find Constructive Solutions so that mr. Floyds death will not have been in vain. We will work hard to bring good out of bad. Unfortunately, the aftermath of George Floyds death has produced a second challenge to the rule of law. While many have peacefully expressed their anger and grief, others have hijacked protests to engage in lawlessness, violent rioting, arson, looting of businesses, and public property, assaults on Law Enforcement officers and innocent people, and even the murder of a federal agent. Such senseless acts of anarchy are not exercises of First Amendment rights. They are crimes designed to terrify fellow citizens and intimidate communities. As i told the governors on monday, we understand the distinction between three sets of actors here. The large preponderance of those who are protesting are peaceful demonstrators who are exercising their First Amendment rights. At some demonstrations, however, there are groups that exploit the opportunity to engage in such crimes as looting. Finally, at some demonstrations, there are extremist agitators who are hijacking the protests to pursue their own separate and violent agenda. We have evidence that antifa and other similar extremist groups as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity. We are also seeing foreign actors playing all sides to exacerbate the violence. The department of justice is working to restore order in the District Of Columbia and around the nation. Here in washington, we are working with the local police, the citizen soldiers of the National Guard, and other federal agencies to provide safety and justice. We have deployed all the major Law Enforcement components of the department on this mission, including the fbi, atf, dea, bureau of prisons, and the u. S. Marshals service. Their leaders are here with me today and we will be talking shortly. I thank these leaders for working bravely and professionally to protect the district. I am pleased to say especially, over the last two nights, the demonstrations, while large, have been peaceful. The Justice Department is also working closely with our state and local partners to address violent riots around the country. Our federal Law Enforcement efforts are focused on the violent instigators. Attorneys fbi, u. S. Offices, component field offices, and state and local enforcement, we are receiving realtime intelligence and we have deployed resources to quell outbreaks of violence in several places. I urge governors and mayors and other state and local leaders to work closely with the National Guard and with us. The federal government has thus far made 51 arrests for federal crimes in connection with violent rioting. We will continue to investigate, to make arrests, and to prosecute when warranted. When i was attorney general in 1995 1992, riots broke out in los angeles following the acquittal by the state of Police Officers accused of beating rodney king. Ultimately, the department of justice at my direction filed federal civil rights charges against those officers. As president bush assured the nation at that time, quote, the violence will end, justice will be served, hope will return. The same is true today. The rule of law will prevail. Thank you. Now i would like to introduce my colleague, chris wray, the director of the fbi. And i have to say this is the fbi that ive had the pleasure of working with the last few days, the fbi that i know and love that have really stood up here and performed magnificently, not only here in d. C. , but around the country and in all their field offices. Their enforcement functions, their intelligence functions are in full gear and with the fbis leadership, we are going to deal effectively with criminals who were involved in extremist violence. Chris. Dir. Wray thank you, general, for your leadership. Good morning. This is an incredibly challenging time for our country and for all the citizens we serve. I want to begin by expressing my deepest sympathies for george floyd and his family. Like most of you, i was appalled and profoundly troubled by the video images of the incident that ended with mr. Floyds tragic death. Within hours of his death on may 25, the fbi had opened a criminal investigation to determine whether the actions by the former Minneapolis PoliceDepartment Officers involved violated federal law. We are moving quickly in that investigation and we will follow the facts wherever they may lead in our pursuit of justice. Mr. Floyds family, like a lot of families who have lost loved ones in recent weeks, are suffering right now and trying to find a way forward. In fact, our entire country is trying to find a way forward. That is because this is not just about george floyd. This is about all of those over the years who have been unjustifiably killed or had their rights violated by people entrusted with their protection. When Law Enforcement fails to fulfill its most basic duty to protect and serve its citizens, particularly members of minority community, it not only tarnishes the badge we all wear but erodes the trust that so many of us in Law Enforcement have worked so hard to build. When people feel that we have not lived up to the trust they place in us, it is understandable they want to speak out and protest. The fbi holds sacred the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms. Nonviolent protests are signs of a healthy democracy, not an ailing one. The fbis mission is to protect the American People and uphold the constitution. That mission is dual and simultaneous. It is not contradictory. In engaging with our communities during these protests, we in Law Enforcement must balance the safety and security of our communities with our citizens Constitutional Rights. One need not and must not come at the expense of the other. In recent days, the violence, destruction of property, threats to life that we have seen in some parts of the country jeopardizes the rights and safety of all citizens, including peaceful demonstrators. And it has to stop. We are seeing people who are exploiting the situation to pursue violent extremist agendas. Our community and religious these individuals have set out to sow discord. By driving us apart, they are undermining the work of those together,bring us our community and religious leaders, elected officials, Law Enforcement, and citizens alike. Many have suffered from the violence instigated to these radicals and extremists, including members of our own Law Enforcement family. Officers killed or gravely injured while just doing their jobs, fulfilling their duty to the public by trying to keep everyone safe. To be clear, we are not in any way trying to discourage peaceful protesters. To those citizens who are out there making your voices heard, through peaceful lawful protests, let me say this we in Law Enforcement hear you. We are also committed to identifying, investigating, and stopping individuals who are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity. At the fbi, we are focusing our efforts on supporting Law Enforcement partners maintaining Public Safety in the communities we are all sworn to protect. We are making sure we are tightly latched up with our state and local Law Enforcement partners across the country by setting up 24hour command posts. We have directed our 200 joint Terrorism Task forces to assist Law Enforcement with opera apprehending and charging violent agitators who are hijacking peaceful protests. On a national level, we are soliciting tips, leads, and Video Evidence of criminal activity through our National Threat operations center. Over the past few days, ive been speaking with Law Enforcement leaders in various parts of the country to ensure that we are providing the support they need to let them know that in every community, the fbi stands ready to assist wherever we can. The relationships we have built with our Law Enforcement and Community Partners are more important now than ever. The reality is, we cannot do our jobs without the trust of the American People. I want to close by reiterating the fbi will remain steadfast in its mission to protect the American People and uphold the constitution. Protecting Civil Liberties and civil rights has been part of our mission since the days of the civil rights movement. Those investigations are at the heart of what we do for the simple reason that Civil Liberties and civil rights are at the very heart of who we are as americans. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal government largely left protection of civil rights to state governments. And it took the Mississippi Burning case and the civil for Movement Since then, we have been working hard to identify and prevent hate crimes and investigate abuses of power and authority. Our civil rights cases are among the most important work we do and that will never change. I will repeat today what i have long believed about the men and women of Law Enforcement. It takes an incredibly special person to willingly put his or her life on the line for a complete stranger. To get up day after day after day and do that and it is extraordinary. In these turbulent times, we wont forget the bravery of our Law Enforcement members who have risked life and safety to protect the public and keep the peace. But the difficulty of that job does not diminish the role we play in society, which is to protect and serve all citizens no matter their race, creed, orientation, or station in life. When we lose sight of those solemn obligations to the citizens we serve, the protectors can quickly become the oppressors, particularly for communities of color. As Law Enforcement, we are bound by an oath to serve all members of our community with equal compassion, dignity, and respect. The American People should expect nothing less from us. Thank you. Dir. Washington good morning. I am donald washington, director of the United States marshals service. First of all, thank you, attorney general. Let me begin by especially noting that today marks the first of three days in which the family, friends, and loved ones will host memorials to honor the life of george floyd in minnesota, north carolina, and texas. On behalf of the men and women of the u. S. Marshals service, i extend my deepest sympathy and my heartfelt condolences to the family of george floyd. What started as peaceful protests in minnesota after the death of mr. Floyd has morphed into a national emergency, resulting in many injuries to many people, thousands of arrests, along with arson, theft, and vandalism to property in many cities. As of last night, u. S. Marshals report damage and vandalism to 21 federal courthouses located in 15 states and the District Of Columbia. There has been damage and vandalism. Vandalism to many other federal properties. The u. S. Marshals service is assisting other agencies and in efforts to address violent disturbances that have occurred in the District Of Columbia and in other cities around the United States. Peaceful protests are good for our country. This right should be respected by all persons and this right absolutely deserves the full protection of officers of the law. Among our basic functions is the absolute duty to protect people who are exercising Constitutional Rights. However, rioters, arsonists, thieves, looters, and their protagonists are criminals. They have undermined peaceful and lawful demonstrations and protests. These criminals threaten our basic Constitutional Rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and they must be brought to justice. Since the earliest days just after our nations birth, u. S. Marshals have worked to ensure the rule of law by making sure that the federal judiciary and the federal judicial process operate unfettered and unintimidated. We have worked tirelessly over the years to bring thousands and thousands of fugitives to justice and today, one of our primary missions is to find and protect endangered children. In the last week, u. S. Marshals have coordinated with u. S. Attorneys and state and local partners to protect protesters and to address the criminal acts of others. Deputy u. S. Marshals are assisting with and conducting criminal investigations required by the criminal acts of persons instigating and causing violence against persons and property. Where such acts violate federal laws. Working with our local Law Enforcement partners, we are also securing federal properties threatened by criminal acts and protecting persons from the violent acts of others. I believe strongly that this special mission is important to our democracy. We will protect those who are engaged in lawful protests, but we will arrest those who commit felonies in our presence. We are working Violent Crime warrants and investigating gang activities that incite riots or terrorism. We are assisting in partnering with federal, state, and local authorities consistent with our broad federal jurisdiction. To our local governments and private sector leaders, we know we are stronger, much stronger, when we work together. We will achieve our collective goals of protecting lawful protesters and lawful protests while also enforcing the law. I do not pretend even for a moment to speak for the other leaders here, but i am certain that we are we all want local leaders to have the confidence and the conviction to request and utilize all available resources to fight violence and to protect our communities. The u. S. Marshals service is your partner, too. In summary, the u. S. Marshals service will continue to perform our many daytoday missions and we will also assist our federal, state, and local partners during this emergency. We will work urgently to keep citizens and Law Enforcement safe. I thank our concerned citizens for their patience and continuing support and i look forward to any questions you might have. Thank you. Ms. Lombardo good afternoon. My name is regina lombardo, the acting director of atf. For many special agents, one of the proudest moments is when you raise your right hand to take the oath of office to support and defend the United States constitution. We take that oath seriously. However, in the moment, we dont know exactly what will be faced what we will be faced with. What challenges we will have to overcome in order to uphold the oath we took. In this moment today, we express our warmest sympathies to the family of george floyd and acknowledge the pain and suffering of his family. We also have sympathy for those who are suffering across the country. Unfortunately, where our constitutionally protected right to peacefully assemble has sometimes turned to riots and criminal acts, the resulting crimes, has involved shootings, burglaries, arsons, bombings, especially destructive devices such as a molotov cocktail. At the request of the attorney general, atf has provided every available resource. We have deployed a large number of special agents, our special Response Team here in our nations capital. We have supported the washington metropolitan Police Department, the United States secret service, and the United States park police to protect the public, property, and the National Landmarks that belong to each and every one of you. Our national Response Teams are hree here in washington, d. C. , in order to quickly respond to the emerging arson incidents. We are working with the d. C. Fire to investigate the seven incendiary fires in the d. C. Area caused by criminals, including the arson at st. Johns church, the aflcio, the National Park service building, and the d. C. Fire district four Police Department. The individual we believe responsible for that fire at the metro pds Fourth District has been arrested and charged. Our certified fire investigators investigators, chemists, and engineers and specialists are working around the clock to support the ongoing safety of operations. Across the country, atf special agents, industry operation investigators from all divisions are responding to shootings, arsons, bombings, and theft of federal firearms license dealers. We are providing investigative support and assistance to all of our local and state partners. Atf has responded to numerous shooting scenes at the disturbances of cities and is actively working with Law Enforcement and we are entering those shell casings into our National Integrated ballistic information network. Our National Tracing Center is running traces on the firearms and we are collecting dna from shell casings and ballistic evidence. Our crimes and Intelligence Centers are collecting valuable intelligence and sharing all of that information in a joint environment. Atf jttf representatives are working with the fbi in multiple cities as well as our department of justice partners, the u. S. Marshals service, the dea, and the bureau of prisons. All state and local federal Law Enforcement working in partnership. Our special agents and certified fire investigators are tracking and assisting more than 847 arsons. Over 76 explosive incidents, and providing valuable Technical Expertise and intelligence support. Two of our national Response Teams, nrt, have been activated and responding to minneapolis and st. Paul, minnesota. We have developed efficient and effective strategies to triage and quickly assess the scenes even in an unstable environment. Atf has also responded to 73 federal firearms licensed dealers. We have identified many suspects and made arrests and recovered many firearms already. We have responded to assaults and murders of our Law Enforcement partners. Our team of atf professionals at our National Correlation center, our laboratories, and tracing center are working day and night to make those arrests. We are on the streets, making cases and protecting the American Public from violent criminals. You do not have to be in Law Enforcement to know that this is dangerous work. Atf has answered the call. As the attorney general stated, the most basic function of government is to provide security for the people who live their lives and exercise their rights. We will meet that responsibility. This is our mission and we deeply are committed to that mission to protect and serve. Thank you. Good morning. My name is michael, the director of the federal bureau of prisons. The bureau of prisons staff, our federal Law Enforcement officers who are often called upon to assist during crisis situations within our communities. The attorney general asked the b. O. P. To assist other agencies in maintaining peace in the District Of Columbia. B. O. P. Are highly trained to deal with emergency situations including crowd control. They are experienced in confrontational avoidance and conflict resolution. In the aftermath of the tragic death of george floyd, it is unfortunate that the services are necessary. On behalf of the b. O. P. And its staff, i extend our greatest sympathies to the family for the loss. We respect the rights of the public to express their frustration and grief. We want to make sure what happened during his death will not happen again. It is a shame that the voices of are being drowned out by those inciting violence. I am proud of our staff every day and i am honored that they were called upon to assist our communities. Thank you. Tim i am the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement administration, and i am honored to represent the brave men and women of the dea and to share with you the important work our special agents have been performing the last few days. But first, i would like to join the attorney general and take a moment to express my sincere condolences on behalf of myself and the men and women of the dea to the family and friends of george floyd, as well as to all those who mourn his passing. It was a tragedy for us, too, in Law Enforcement. The deas mission, like all Law Enforcement partners, is to protect the American People. Badge they receive their one ofdentials, every our special agents takes an oath to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. That is exactly what they are doing this week. As is the case with other significant events, our agents have been authorized to respond as needed to violations of federal law. I am proud of what our agency has done to assist our state and local partners. To ensure that those who wish to peacefully protest may do so in safety and without fear of violence. While these events have been largely peaceful, agitators continue to attempt to sow chaos. We have recovered weapons. We have had rocks thrown at our vehicles. Our agents, along with other Law Enforcement partners, have endured the continued verbal assaults. During that time, our agents have acted professionally and admirably under these difficult conditions. Dea special agents are providing security, conducting threat assessments, sharing that information on potential violations of federal law in realtime. In addition, the dea continues to investigate drug related crimes, including the theft of controlled substances from looted pharmacies, which is happening here in the District Of Columbia and around the country. In the national or capital region, approximately or over 150 dea special agents have partnered with the metropolitan Police Department at the request and the National Guard to enforce security posts and maintain a secure perimeter and in designated areas. Dea has provided over 11 mobile Response Teams who are prepared to respond to high risk situations and other requests for assistance including medical services. Dea owes much of its success in enforcing our nations drug laws to the assistance provided by the very federal, state, and local partners that need our help now. Every dea agent on the street helps to free up one of our local Law Enforcement counterparts to carry out their policing functions and protect the public. Dea is committed to providing that support as long as it is needed, requested, and authorized. Our country was founded upon basic principles and rights. Chief among them is the right of free speech and the right to assemble peaceably. We are supporting those rights and the peaceful demonstrators by ensuring their voices can be heard and that those seeking to exploit this situation are held to account. A. G. Barr thank you. With that, i will open it up to questions. To ask a question, you may press star one. Question. A todays first question, nbc news. Go ahead. Reporter mr. Attorney general, washington, d. C. , has experience like the with large events and inauguration or meetings of the world bank. Did you think it was necessary for you to take where does his and Authority Come from . Rioting got going n may 29 and got worse and worse over the weekend. It culminated or came to a on sunday evening ight around the white house on the northern side of Lafayette Park. Serious rioting. He treasury annex, Treasury Department annex was broken into. Historical building on Lafayette Park, which is federal property, was burned down. Fire set at the istorical st. Johns church right there, across from the white house. An old church that goes back to the 18th century and is referred to as the church of president s. Crow bars to ed dig out the pavers at lafayette and used them as secret les, thrown at service and other federal agents. Were numerous head injuries among the federal personnel whose responsibility protect the white house. You an indication, from saturday until today and lions share of these injuries came over the there were 114 injuries to Law Enforcement. Those to federal agents and most of those inflicted right around the white house. There were 22 hospitalizations, most of those were serious ead injuries or concussions hat required monitoring and treatment. On monday, the president asked coordinate the various federal Law Enforcement agencies, not only the multiple agencies, of justice but also other agencies such as in the department of homeland security, so we had a response and worked National Guard and also d. C. Police. We decided we needed more of a buffer to protect the white house and our agents and secret Service Personnel who could be projectiles from the street. I made the decision that we try to move our perimeter northward by a block to provide additional protection, and met at 2 00, on monday, i with all the various Law Enforcement agencies, and we set tactical plan, and that plan involved moving our perimeter block north to i street. It was our hope to be able to do relatively quickly, before many demonstrators appeared that day. Of the ately, because ifficulty in getting appropriate forces units into place, by the time they were able to move our perimeter, number ofbeen a large protestors that had assembled on h street. Were projectiles being group was the increasingly unruly, and the operation they were asked three times if they would back one block. They refused. Our e proceeded to move street. Er out to i it is true that the metropolitan police have a lot of experience with demonstrations. Federal a lot of the federal city is the seat of the federal government. As you the buildings, know, and facilities here, and monuments, are the responsibility of the federal and the proceedings and process of the federal overnment take place here, and so when you have a large scale disturbance that is damaging federal property, property, g federal threatening federal law nforcement officers, threatening the officials in government and their offices, and our great monuments, its responsibility of the federal government to render we do so in on and with the dination metropolitan Police Department. Later that evening on monday as we did establish a to er zone, we were able further at day without significant violence from the followingors, and the two days were peaceful. The assemblies and the protests peaceful. Were pleased with that. Were working closely with the police to plan out week. Emainder of the from abc news, go ahead. Afternoon, attorney general barr. A couple of questions for you, i may. Yesterday, the department of the three Members Group or associated with the roup byu galoo, a far right extremist group, known as a far right extremist group, is it mportant in your remarks and out all the oint different groups that are violent in this type of do you have any ideas on if they could have been ore surgical on how they operated on monday. Any who were moved were forcibly removed were peaceful protestors. I think its important to the extremist groups that are involved. Thats why in my statement, i addition to antifa and other extremist groups like were a variety of of a variety ple of ideological persuasions, so i did make that point. Going to get too specific, but, the intelligence eing connected by the u. S. Attorneys office is particularly integrated by the. B. I. From multiple different sources, is building up. Some specific cases against individuals, some an active if a related. The extremists are in everything on violence and participating in means of providing the violence, and, you know, were cases. G those at the same time, there is a lot of, i would also add, there is a disinformation out there. People posing as different as of different groups. Sometimes you have to dig a ittle deeper to determine exactly whats going on, and groups that dont ideology otherar than anarchy. Groups that want to bring about a civil war, to exacerbate the violence. Violence. Its brewing up a lot of extremist organizations. Have somethingld that. D to sure. I mean, let me say, first, as some time or quite including even my first few months in the job, the f. B. I. Of ongoing number nvestigations of violent anarchists extremists, including those like antifa with antifa ideology. Those as terrorist nvestigations and are actively pursuing them as joint terrorist task force. While the majority of protestors peaceful there are certainly instigators, agitators and pportunists seeking to explore these demonstrations to commit violence or rioting, and exactly are, whose ople driving them, whats driving hem what tactics they use, varies widely sometimes from citytocity. Sometimes even from nighttonight. And were working with all of our Law Enforcement partners to information as we an about that topic, and to bring federal charges where appropriate. And possible. Violence. Bout the were not about the ideology. And it doesnt matter what your is, if you commit violence or rioting or acts that e would consider terrorism, were going to pursue it. Of your cond part question, pierre, one of the ifficulties is that, while there are peaceful demonstrators participants in these protests, it is the instigators, those committed to is shield asically themselves by going among them and carrying out acts of violence. I saw the projectiles on monday when i Lafayette Park to look at the situation, and as one of officials said, he pointed out various knots of people here the projectiles were coming from and we could see, lot of re a to nstrators, and its hard know exactly where they are coming from. Are ently these things hrown from the rear of the demonstration. Ut we could not continue to protect the federal property involved and protect the safety of our agents with such a tight our object was to block. T out by one the next question, please. Our next question comes from david with fox news. Please go ahead. Attorney general. Yesterday your colleague over at the department of defense, esper, expressed some regret in the way things were park, at Lafayette Lafayette square, posing in a picture with president trump, he apoliticalnts to stay and stay out of things. As you mentioned, you had this job in 1992. This during the rodney king riots. What do you think about politics being you believe youre too political in this by standing in a picture with the president in front of the church . Your take on this compared to what secretary esper said . He eah, i dont know what was conveying there. Obviously, my interest was to the Law Enforcement functions of the federal to protect nd ederal facilities and federal personnel. Rioting, to address the that was interfering with the function, and that we were doing. I think the president is the executive branch and the chief executive of the nation and should be able to white house and walk across the street to the church of president s. I dont necessarily view that as a political act. I think it was entirely him to do. For i did not know that he was going until later in the day after our perhaps were well perimeter,to move the so there was no correlation tactical plan of oving the perimeter out by one block and the president s going over to the church. He president asked members of his cabinet to go over there with him, the two that were think it was us to go over with him. Next question. Thank you, sir. Our next question comes from associated the press. Please go. Thank you, mr. Attorney general. Comments pand on your that foreign actors are working to or exploit do you believe its organized effort from foreign governments, and you identified which countries are responsible and i have a separate question for carvajal if i that. , right after okay. May i ask chris if he cares to provide a little more detail. Younot sure how much detail want to get into but people houldnt think that countries that are hostile to the United States, that their efforts to the u. S. Or weaken the u. S. Or sow disorders in the u. S. Comes and goes with the cycle. N its constant. Constantly trying to sow discord among our people and disinformationof that circulates that way. I believe that we have evidence that some of the foreign hackers that are associated with foreign governments, focussing in on this particular trying to ere and exacerbate it in every way they can. Nless chris has something to over to you. N it there is not a whole lot i can say other than to say its not unusual choose to actors to try to amplify events in this to sow devisesiveness and discord. A bullhorna provides r amplifier to generate more controversy where controversy may already exist and try to generate upheaval in that regard those foreign actors should know were watching it extremely are prepared to act if necessary. For mr. Your question carvajal, can you express some oncerns about the g. O. P. Specifically that some offers around d. C. Have said they have been specifically told not to that they work for the federal government. Last night, we learned an inmate in brooklyn had died after officers used pepper splay on himself. He barricaded do you have any concerns there resulted inal force someones death . For the you, mike, question. Let me clarify this first of all, im not wear of any specific Bureau Prisons or not to l being told identify themselves. What i attribute that to is that we normally operate within the confines of our institution and we dont need to identify ourselves. Most of our identification is institution specific and robably wouldnt mean a whole lot to people in d. C. A robably should have done better job of marking them nationally at the agency. He point is well taken but i assure you that no one was specifically told to my knowledge not to identify themselves. Your question regarding the incident in brooklyn, what i you, we did do a press release with the information in there. It was, as you stated, an disruptive olving a individual down in a cell. The officers did utilize pepper spray, as you say, oc, and afterward, the individual unfortunately died. What i will tell you is we the case toreferred the f. B. I. , and the officers Inspector General. Told, notified this morning that the officer Inspector General is going to that case. Thats about all i can comment because the matter is under investigation. Let me just add that the bureau of prison teams are used requently for emergency response, and emergency ituations, and civil disturbances or hurricanes or other things like that. They are highly trained units. In fact, the department of do not really have large numbers of units that are deal with civil disturbances. A lot of people may be looking say we can ory and call on hundreds and hundreds of u,s. Marshals and thats simply case. E our marshals Response Force is approximately a hundred u,s. Historically, when there have been emergencies where we have to respond with do have experience in these kind of emergencies, they are highly trained people. Use what are called sort teams, Response Teams, from the of prisons, and in the ederal system we dont wear badges, the agents dont wear badges with their names and tuff like that which many civilian, nonfederal Police Agencies do. I could understand why some of these individuals simply to people nt to talk about who they are. Case. At, in fact, was the ill take the next question. The next question comes with the wall street journal. Please go ahead. Line is open now. There. Im hoping you can explain how to coordinate the National Guard and movement in and around washington with the various federal Law Enforcement agencies. Is it you who communicates the orders to them and how does that work . It largely depends on who they are supporting at that time. Some of the National Guard were police ng the met moat department, and some of them be out beyond the white house perimeter, working the mpd. Ets with o they would be tactically attached there. Others, we ask the national uard to protect federal monuments, and so a number of even i wont speculate about a majority but a ot of the units were dispersed around the city to protect monuments and particular facilities. Those that were within the white and were part of white house and Lafayette Park area, were under the direction of the tactical that area. In but in terms of requesting the esources and asking for their assistance, that was ultimately responsibility of ensuring that the National Guard, that we support Law Enforcement and support the to bear. Were brought next question. Next question comes from katy new york times. Please go ahead. Hi, mr. Attorney general. This you so much for doing press conference. I have two questions but the most important is, i would like you your thoughts on police abuse of power. Last year at a Law Enforcement said such abuse reflected more than apples more than systemic beakdowns. Today you said its not the kind. Of its while the vast number of job bravely, eir its so if were looking at a issue or not shifted over time. No. My views havent shifted recently, and what you quoted, i consistent. And you were addressing, you know, the use of excessive force, is that right, katy . Is that what you were addressing . Yes, excessive force, police yeah. , i do think that those who force that cessive remember, you know, federal civil rights laws address willful use of excessive that engage in that kind of activity, i think, distinct minority, and i overwhelming number of olice officers try conscientiously to use appropriate and reasonable force. And the second question was, it seems that were ratcheting in the district the tools and the power of the federal getting dea and others the power to make arrests. Its happening now. It seems the streets have been calm and there is no curfew tonight and the mayor sort of has confidence that order. Returned to well, actually, after ssessing the situation last night toward the end of the maybe early in the orning, i felt that we could fford to collapse our some ofr, and eliminate andcheckpoints and so forth take more of a low profile footprint, for a couple of reasons. We havene, i think that seen a sharp reduction in iolent episodes, and peaceful demonstrations, and our hope and expectation is that those will responsibility. Also, because we now have on hand sufficient resources, we deal with that ontingency if violence increases, so i do think that, over the weekend, and certainly the beginning of this week, we had a phenomenon around the ountry with a number of cities getting extremely violent. Have been ficers heard around the country a lot of victims. Property damage, and,s i said, on sunday, it was the peak of violence in d. C. On monday we were still facing very large demonstration that is belligerent and throwing projectiles. Evening ultimately ed more peacefully. Governors on its very important to use sufficient Law Enforcement in a ablish law and order city when you have riots running. If you use insufficient for rces it dangerous everybody. Its dangerous for the officers. Its dangerous for the protestors. Its dangerous for the population. Because things can easily get ut of control and you lose control of events. Riots are. And the way to address it is to make sure the resources are the and people understand resources are there to deal with that kind of violence. Occurred, it hat provides an environment where things could quiet down, and hey did quiet down, and quietedy they will stay down. I think that was it. I appreciate everyones the dance and i appreciate hard work done by all the men and women in the department of justice nd the Department Components and their leaders. Thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] heres a look at our live coverage friday. The catholic archbishop of washington, d. C. Is part of a discussion on faith and action following the death of george floyd. Then the Congressional Black Caucus holds a town hall to talk about nationwide protests and legislative proposals to address racial injustice. Secretary of state mike pompeo holds a press conference, and a discussion from axios on policing and racial inequality with a rush,elvin with bobby rush melvin carter, and derek johnson. Senate democrats gathered at the u. S. Capitol to honor the life of george floyd and other africanamericans who died in recent weeks. Lawmakers were led in prayer by barry black, the senate chaplain, before remaining silent for the amount of time a Police Officer kneeled on George Floyds neck before he died