The Department of Justice has officially opened a civil rights investigation into the violence carried out in Charlottesville over the weekend. One man, a self-described admirer of Hitler, is facing murder charges after one woman was killed and 19 others were injured after he rammed his car into a crowd.
No bail for #Charlottesville suspect who 'adored' Hitler https://t.co/SNCSdDq6mg via @ReutersTV pic.twitter.com/dh2xobKoUV
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) August 14, 2017
During an interview with ABC News Monday morning, Attorney General Jeff Sessions confirmed those actions are considered an act of domestic terrorism under DOJ statute. Sessions also said FBI agents are working to investigate civil rights and terrorism violations.
"It does meet the definition of domestic terrorism in our statute," Sessions said. "You can be sure we will charge and advance the investigation towards the most serious charges that can be brought, because this is unequivocally an unacceptable, evil attack that cannot be accepted in America. That is absolutely a factor we are looking at."
The Attorney General was at the White House Monday afternoon meeting with President Trump and FBI Christopher Wray about the case.
"Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs. Including the KKK, nao-nazis, and white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans," the President said after the meeting. "To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend's racist violence, you will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered."
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