Biden Justice Department wields controversial Trump-era legal tools
Federal prosecutors are invoking a 1968-era statute to pursue rioters, spurring accusations of racism.
Federal prosecutors have employed a controversial 1968-era statute in recent weeks to charge dozens of suspects arrested in the Capitol riot in January. | Win McNamee/Getty Images
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President Joe Biden’s Justice Department is defending its use of an anti-riot statute that critics say is racist a tool the Trump-era DOJ made aggressive use of to pursue some of those accused of violence in connection with last year’s racial justice protests.
Making matters more complicated: Federal prosecutors have employed the controversial statute in recent weeks to charge dozens of suspects arrested in the Capitol riot in January, many of them affiliated with groups that espouse white supremacist views.
Devils Lake Journal
Fargo - U.S. District Court Chief Judge Peter D. Welte sentenced Abdimanan Bana Habib, age 21 of Fargo, ND, to four months incarceration followed by three years of supervised released for the charge of Civil Disorder, 18 USC 231(a)(3). Judge Welte also ordered Habib to pay $2,500 in restitution.
On May 30, 2020, Habib participated in riots that erupted in Fargo following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. What started as peaceful protests in Fargo turned violent when rioters, including Habib, broke into several Fargo businesses and buildings, including JL Beers, Vinyl Taco, and the Exchange Building. In several instances, Habib is seen on video throwing what appeared to be rocks or debris toward police officers. Habib was also seen on video trying to ignite what appeared to be a bottle containing alcohol (aka: Molotov Cocktail), but was unsuccessful in doing so.
Dillon business owner pleads not guilty to federal charges related to Capitol riot
By: MTN News
and last updated 2021-02-20 12:39:33-05
HELENA â On Friday, Dillon business owner Hank Muntzer entered a plea of not guilty to D.C. District Judge Amit Mehta for his alleged actions at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
A grand jury brought five charges against Muntzer.
Courtesy: Hank Muntzer
Hank Muntzer in front of his store in Dillon, MT
Muntzer told MTN he plans to fight the charges and believes videos he recorded will show that he did nothing wrong.
âThere were 5,000 people in the building so are they going to arrest all 5,000 people and bring charges against them or are these the people that were outspoken the most?â Muntzer told MTN. âI was just supporting my president, I had no idea we were even going to the Capitol that day. We didnât know that until he announced it at his speech.â
Sylva man arrested in connection with Capitol riots On Jan. 21, workers begin to remove displays and equipment used on an Inauguration Day that was heavily influenced by the events of Jan. 6. Jeffery Delannoy photo
The world watched with bated breath Jan. 6 as what is normally a perfunctory proceeding the Senatorial certification of Electoral College results turned violent. At the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., then-President Donald Trump was whipping attendees into a frenzy of anger over what he continues to claim was a stolen election, and as he spoke the roiling crowd made its raucous way to the U.S. Capitol a couple miles away.
Update on 3 Montanans charged in Capitol riot krtv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from krtv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.