Watch Scott Jennings Slap Down This Shoddy Talking Point About the Spending Bill
Merry Christmas, And Democrats Can Go To Hell
A Quick Bible Study Vol. 247: Advent and Christmas Reflection - Seven Lessons
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and Ransom Captive Israel
Why Christmas Remains the Greatest Story of All Time
Why the American Healthcare System Has Been Broken for Years
Christmas: Ties to the Past and Hope for the Future
Trump Should Broker Israeli-Turkish Rapprochement for Peace in Middle East
America Must Dominate in Crypto
Biden Was Too 'Mentally Fatigued' to Take Call From Top Committee Chair Before...
Who Is Going to Replace JD Vance In the Senate?
'I Have a Confession': CNN Host Makes Long-Overdue Apology
There Are New Details on the Alleged Suspect in Trump Assassination
Doing Some Last Minute Christmas Shopping? Make Sure to Avoid Woke Companies.
Biden Signs Stopgap Bill Into Law Just Hours Before Looming Gov’t Shutdown Deadline
Tipsheet

Liberal DA Announces He Will Not Prosecute Many of Those Arrested During Portland's Riots

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Mike Schmidt, who serves as the district attorney for Multnomah County, announced his office will not prosecute the rioters who have been arrested and charged with certain crimes during the months-long unrest the city of Portland has experienced.

Advertisement

There are currently more than 550 pending misdemeanor and felony charges that have been brought up since the protests and riots have started in late May after the death of George Floyd. Schmidt's approach to the charges will result in a "significant portion" of the 550 cases being dropped, according to opb.org.

"In a democracy where speech is so important, being the system that’s being criticized and then using that system to shut down speech,” Schmidt said, “I think we have to hold ourselves to an even higher level of tolerance for that speech to take place."

"The presumption on a lot of these cases that are listed out there is that we won’t prosecute,” he added. "But if there are egregious circumstances or something about the case that stands out, we can always choose to prosecute."

Charges that will be looked at to be dropped include:

  • Interfering with a police officer
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Criminal trespass
  • Harassment
  • Escape in the 3rd degree
  • Riot, in some cases 
Advertisement

Schmidt said his office will a "hard look" at cases where those charged with resisting arrest or assault of an officer where there was a use of force by the police.

"If you are a person who is out there demonstrating and you get caught up in the melee and you get arrested for that, because you are out there and having your voice heard, those are the types of cases we are talking about," he explained.

Schmidt promised those who were arrested for damaging property or causing violence will be prosecuted. The riots saw multiple local police and federal buildings being attacked on a nightly basis, including officers being injured by the thrown projectiles and commercial-grade fireworks.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement