Is watching on cspan. Powered by cable. Up next, an update from attorney general Merrick Garland on the Fatal Police Shooting of Breonna Taylor. Good morning everyone. Earlier today, i spoke with family of Breonna Taylor. This morning they were informed the Justice Department charged for current and current Metro Police Officers with federal crimes related to ms. Taylors death. Those alleged crimes include civil rights offenses, unlawful conspiracies, unconscionable unconstitutional use of force and obstruction. The four defendants were charged to two separate indictments and one information. Im going to begin today by discussing the civil rights offenses that stem from the falsification of a search warrant. We allege that these offenses result in ms. Taylors death. These charges focus on the conduct of a law of a metro place based metro unit. In the first indictment filed today, we allege in 2020, that unit was investigating suspected Drug Trafficking in the west end of louisville. On march 12, 2020, officers from that unit thought five search warrants they claimed word connected to drug warns. 12 of those were in the west end were those were allegedly occurring. A fifth search warrant from the west end. The federal charges announced today that members of the place based investigators unit falsified the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant of ms. Taylors home. This act violated federal civil rights laws and those violations resulted in ms. Taylors death. Specifically we allege that ms. Taylors Fourth Amendment rights were violated when defendants rights were change, thought a warrant to search ms. Taylors home knowing that the officers left probable cause for the search. We allege that the defendants knew the affidavits in support of that warrant contain false and misleading information and it omitted material information. Among other things, the affidavit claims they were verified as the target had received packages at ms. Taylors address. Defendant james and good lap knew that was not true. We further allege that defendants james and meaning the search warrant would be carried out by armed lmpd officers and that conducting that search could create a dangerous situation for anyone who happened to be in ms. Taylors home. As outlined in the charging documents, the officers who ultimately carried out the search at ms. Taylors apartment were not in draft were not a part in drafting warrant and were unaware. But those officers executed the search warrant. Ms. Taylor was at home with another person who was in wrongful possession of a handgun. When officers broke down the door to ms. Taylors apartment, that person, believing that intruders were breaking in, immediately fired one shot. Two officers immediately fired a total of 22 shots into the apartment. One of those shots hit taylor in the chest and killed her. We allege that the defendants knew their actions of falsifying the affidavit could create a dangerous situation and we allege these unlawful acts resulted in ms. Taylors death. The charges announced today also allege that the officers responsible for falsifying the affidavit that led to the search took steps to cover up their unlawful conduct after ms. Taylor was killed. We allege that defendants jamie james and good lap unknowingly falsifying documents that was created after ms. Taylors death. We also allege that they conspired to mislead federal, state and local authorities who are investigating the incident. For example, we allege that in may 2020, those two defendants met in the garage where they agreed to tell investigators the false story. The indictment separately alleges that the victim meany lied during the investigation. Another indictment filed today alleges that after ms. Taylor was shot, another lmpd officer, defendant Brent Hankinson moved from the doorway to the side of her apartment and fired 10 more shots through a window and a sliding glass door. Both of which were covered with blinds and curtains. Defendant hankinson has been charged with two civil rights offenses, alleging that he willfully used and constitutionally unconstitutional use of Excessive Force as an officer. Assistant attorney general clark will speak more about that aspect of the case. As in any case, the charlie announced today are allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until Proven Guilty below until Proven Guilty beyond reasonable doubt before a court of law. Before close, i want to thank attorney general clark, the team in the case of fbi for the tireless work on this case. We share but we cannot fully imagine the grief filled by Breonna Taylors loved ones and all those affected by the events of march 13, 2020. Breonna taylor should be alive today. The Justice Department is committed to defending and protecting the civil rights of every person in this country. That was this departments founding purpose and it remains our urgent mission. Attorney general clark . Since the founding of our nation, the bill of rights to the United States constitution has guaranteed that all people have a right to be secure in their home. Free from false warrants, unreasonable searches and the use of unjustifiable and Excessive Force by the police. Breonna taylor should have awakened in her home as usual on the morning of march 13, 2020. Tragically, she did not. She was just 26 years old. As attorney general garland just stated today, indictments allege that Louisville Police detective joshua james and Sergeant Kyle meany drafted and approved what they knew was a false affidavit to support a search warrant for ms. Taylors home. That false affidavit set in motion events that led to ms. Taylors death, when other lmpd officers executed that warrant. The Fourth Amendment of the constitution ensures that people are subject to searches only when there is probable cause supporting a search warrant. Falsified warrants create unnecessary have create unnecessary hazards for the public and police who rely on facts that tell officers report in carrying out their public duty. The indictment alleges that by preparing a false affidavit to secure a search warrant for Breonna Taylors home, defendant james and meaning willfully deprived Breonna Taylor of her constitutional right to be freed from unreasonable searches and seizures. We allege that ms. Taylors death resulted from that violation. In a separate indictment, the grand jury charges former lmpd officer Brett Hankinson with using unconstitutional Excessive Force during the raid on his taylors home. Without a lawful executive justifying the use of deadly force, defendant hankinson traveled away from his taylors doorway to the side of the building and fired 10 shots into Breonna Taylors apartment through a bedroom window and a sliding glass door that would that were both covered with blinds and curtains. Community safety dictates that police use their weapons only when necessary to defend their own lives or the lives of others. And even then, that they must do so with great care and caution. Todays indictment alleges that hankinsons use of Excessive Force violated the rights of Breonna Taylor and her guest and also of her neighbors whose lives were endangered by bullets that penetrated into their apartment. Attorney general garland often underscores that as the Justice Department, we follow the facts and the law. Today after a full and comprehensive investigation, the facts and law have taught us here. To these indictments. I want to commend our team who spent hundreds of hours gathering facts regarding this tragedy. No stone was left unturned. These indictments reflect the departments commitment to preserving the integrity of the criminal Justice System and to protecting the constitutional right of every american. Independent from these criminal charges, a separate team from the Justice DepartmentCivil Rights Division is conducting a civil investigation into whether the Louisville Metro Police department is engaging in a pattern or practice of Law Enforcement misconduct. We are looking at whether the lmpd uses Excessive Force improper searches or racially discriminatory policing. That Ongoing Investigation is separate from todays charges. In closing, i extend condolences to Breonna Taylors family and loved ones. Today we acknowledge the loss of her life. We recognize her dignity and recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice. To questions. We were wondering if you could elaborate on the top line things you are finding in the practice investigation so far. And this question is for the ag. With Brittney Griners file likely wrapping up in russia, do you expect with greiner in trevor reed to be traded . Do you expect other prisoner swaps . I will take the second question. All i can say as the secretary of state has said, ms. Griner was unlawfully detained. Im going to let assistant general im going to let assistant attorney general clark answer the question. Conducting interviews with stakeholders, members of the police department, engaging in right along, reviewing documents and data. We will share more with what that investigation has concluded. Thank you. The only officer in louisville who has faced charges locally was acquitted. Does the Justice Department feel compelled to step in in part because you believe justice was not served on a local level . Do you believe the fact that prosecutors did not charge any of the officers except hankinson and he was cleared of those charges will make this case more difficult . The Justice Department brings charges where they have been brought before when we believe substantial federal interest has not been vindicated vindicated that needs to be vindicated. Federal offenses, obviously the state did not. That the that dictates our determination in this case. I have every degree of confidence in our prosecutors and investigators in this case. Attorney general, was there a piece of evidence for a witness that drove the departments decision to fact Breonna Taylors case . This investigation has been going on urgently. It is run by career prosecutors and investigators. It is a complex case. You can tell by the recharging documents we found we filed today. The grand jury here in washington had issued subpoenas for top members of the health administration. Is there a window to bring charges in that investigation before the midterms . This is something i cannot comment about. I am sorry. Did donald trump as a former president have any power to block a criminal investigation . Im going to give you the same answer i just gave. I am not able to comment about that. Thank you. All right, thank you. Here is what is coming up live on cspan this afternoon. Written is Britains Conservative Party lives trust will take part in debate to be the next Prime Minister after Boris Johnson announced his resignation in july. Watch live coverage from the sky studios in london starting at about 2 00 p. M. Eastern. And coming up at 4 30 eastern, we go live to dallas, texas for day one of the political access conference. Jim jordan along with former acting attorney jim whitaker will address. You can watch the cpac event live on our cspan now video out. It all begins its afternoon live here on cspan beginning at 4 30 eastern. Wall street journal and other papers this morning looking at that result of what happened in kansas concerning that constitutional amendment that was turned back. This is the headline. After kansas abortion vote, they write in part from republican analysts flashing warning signs for their party