CNN Host Looked Not Pleased by This Particular Answer From a Swing State...
The Regime Media Is Against Free Speech
BREAKING: Multiple People Injured in Delta Airlines Plane Crash at Toronto Airport
NAACP Wants to Punish Companies for Abandoning DEI Instead of Seeking Real Solution...
Democrats Are Big Mad That DOGE Is Targeting Their Favorite Federal Agency
Former Students of Christian College Threaten to Withhold Donations for Bowing to Leftist...
Arkansas Bill Would Cripple ATF Efforts in State
Utah Bill Would Do More to Reduce Unintentional Shootings Than Any Gun Control...
Here's Why AP's Stubbornness on Gulf of America Is Even More Ridiculous
A Republican State Lawmaker Wants to Create a DOGE for His State
Louisiana-New York Governors Get Into It Over Indictment of Provider in Abortion-Pill Case
Hakeem Jeffries Confronted With a Painful Reality
Jack Smith Discloses Eyebrow-Raising Gift
One Government Agency Is Scrambling to Rehire Hundreds of Fired Employees
Kamala Harris Is Still Giving Cringeworthy Remarks
Tipsheet

Oregon Senator Says AG Barr Wanting to Charge Violent Anarchists with Sedition Is 'Authoritarian'

AP Photo/Don Ryan

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) criticized U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday for wanting to charge the violent extremists taking advantage of the unrest in American cities with sedition, calling the move "authoritarian" because he believes Barr just wants to punish President Trump's political opponents.

Advertisement

Barr has pointed to how anarchists in Portland, Oregon had rioted for over 100 days before putting a temporary pause due to the wildfires in the state. The groups are planning to continue their actions against local, state, and federal law enforcement once the wildfires are no longer a major threat. 

"The Attorney General, Bill Barr, as you know, on this call with prosecutors brought up the possibility of charging violent protesters with sedition, which is a crime to conspire to overthrow the U.S. government. What is your reaction to that?" CNN's Poppy Harlow asked.

"Well, I’m astounded. If people are engaged in property damage and I condemn violence on — on all fronts, they should be charged with property damage, but what I read into Attorney General Barr’s comments is he wants people who are protesting in opposition to the administration to be charged with sedition," Merkley said.

"I don’t know that it’s that clearly laid out but that was the impression I took from it. This is part of an imperial presidency, an authoritarian approach where you undermine the legitimacy of the press. You absolutely make disagreeing with the administration a — a crime, charge them with sedition," he continued. "It’s — I think the Attorney General or the various prosecutors who weighed in and shared that news, they are professionals who were just astounded that our top law enforcement person would — would propose really what is politicizing protest."

Advertisement

When the rioters were targeting the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in July, Merkley condemned the Trump administration for deploying extra federal officers to protect the building. 

"I will be introducing an amendment to the defense bill with [Sen.] Ron Wyden to stop the Trump administration from sending its paramilitary squads onto America's streets. We won't let these authoritarian tactics stand," he tweeted.


Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement