Is This DOJ Indictment the Latest Example of the Criminalization of Speech?

Journalist and constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald is highlighting what he says is an "absolutely remarkable" and "chilling" indictment by the Department of Justice, which comes as Republicans are drawing increasing attention to the weaponization of the federal government through a subcommittee chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

Weeks after a GOP social media influencer was convicted of election interference for posting memes about Hillary Clinton in what critics argue is the "most shocking attack" on free speech in recent history, the DOJ announced in a recent release that left-wing U.S. citizens have been charged with felonies for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, allegedly working on behalf of the Russian government.

"A federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, returned a superseding indictment charging four U.S. citizens and three Russian nationals with working on behalf of the Russian government and in conjunction with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to conduct a multi-year foreign malign influence campaign in the United States," the release states. "Among other conduct, the superseding indictment alleges that the Russian defendants recruited, funded and directed U.S. political groups to act as unregistered illegal agents of the Russian government and sow discord and spread pro-Russian propaganda..."

U.S. Citizens and Russian Intelligence Officers Charged with Conspiring to Use U.S. Citizens as Illegal Agents of the Russian Government

Defendants Sought to Sow Discord, Spread Pro-Russia Propaganda and Interfere in Elections Within the United Stateshttps://t.co/PDgZU8LUuF
— Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) April 18, 2023

Greenwald argues it's the latest example of the criminalization of speech.

Here's one of the leaders of one of the groups who is now indicted, Omali Yeshitela of @_InPDUM, speaking at a "Peace in Ukraine" rally last month.

Criminalizing speech is becoming increasingly common by claiming the speech serves Russia's interests:https://t.co/i9kmkLYykr
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 19, 2023

Even more chilling is how media outlets cover these DOJ indictments: mindlessly treating them as proven fact:

Anchor: "Jim, this shows how active Russia is in our democracy"

"Reporter": Indeed: chilling. [Proceeds to read from indictment without an ounce of skepticism]
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 19, 2023

All this is independent of the fact that the US not only does exactly what these indictments claim Russia (and China) do, but far more extreme. The US funds dissident groups in many nations, creates fake internets to destabilize, etc. You'd think reporters would mention this: pic.twitter.com/Lgjle6nI0X
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 19, 2023

In one of his last shows at Fox News, Tucker Carlson spoke out about the disturbing case.

I don't know if you've ever experienced it before but it's an odd sensation to be on the show of a "hard-core white nationalist" as he passionately defends the rights of radical black leftists when no national Dem will.

Here's our episode on this case:https://t.co/AoIpGHXVcm
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 21, 2023