Attorney General Barr says foreign groups, extremists stoking divisions in U.S. protests

[webfact]

Attorney General Barr says foreign groups, extremists stoking divisions in U.S. protests

By Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan

 

FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: U.S. Attorney General William Barr awaits the arrival of President Donald Trump to addresses the coronavirus response daily briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General William Barr said on Thursday that foreign interests and "extremist agitators" tied to the Antifa movement have tried to exploit nationwide protests over the latest in a long series of killings of black men by white police officers.

 

Barr's statements came three days after an internal intelligence assessment produced by the Department of Homeland Security and seen by Reuters found that most of the violence at the protests appeared to have been carried out by opportunists, not organized extremists.

 

While Barr and Republican President Donald Trump have focused blame on Antifa, a loosely organized anti-fascist movement, federal prosecutors in Las Vegas on Wednesday charged three members of the far-right "Boogaloo" movement with planning to cause violence and destruction during protests.

 

"We have seen evidence that Antifa and other similar extremist groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions, have been involving in instigating and participating in violent activity," Barr said at a news conference.

 

Barr also defended his decision to forcefully push peaceful protesters back from the White House on Monday evening, saying rioting had gotten out of control over the weekend.

 

Clearing the protesters allowed Trump to stage a photo opportunity at a nearby historic church, where a fire set during the earlier mayhem did minor damage.

 

"We decided that we needed more of a buffer to protect the White House," Barr said.

 

The attorney general has been criticized for his decision to use force on the protests over the death of George Floyd by calling in a wide range of federal agents to protect the White House and other landmarks after demonstrations in Washington turned violent.

 

The federal agents called in to protect the White House include riot-control teams from the federal Bureau of Prisons, who have been spotted in uniforms without badges or other identification, unlike other police officers.

 

Bureau Director Michael Carvajal said those agents typically do not wear identifying material on the job, and acknowledged he "probably should have done a better job of marking them nationally."

 

In a letter to Trump, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called the presence of unidentified officers and U.S. military on the streets of Washington "alarming."

 

The Democrat told reporters that her daughter, Alexandra, had been present when the federal agents acting on Barr's orders cleared Lafayette Park near the White House of protesters.

 

"She thought she had tear gas in her eyes because she was incapacitated for a while and she called me after," Pelosi said.

 

The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed a lawsuit in Washington on Thursday on behalf of the protesters seeking an order declaring that Trump, Barr and other officials violated their constitutional rights.

 

"When the nation's top law enforcement officer becomes complicit in the tactics of an autocrat, it chills protected speech for all of us," said Scott Michelman, ACLU legal director in the District of Columbia.

 

Barr said foreign groups are also using social media disinformation campaigns like those mounted by Russia during the 2016 presidential election to widen divisions in U.S. society.

 

"Some of the foreign hackers and groups that are associated with foreign governments are focusing in on this particular situation we have here, and trying to exacerbate it in every way they can," he said.

 

Barr said federal agents have made 51 arrests so far for charges involving violence.

 

He said 114 law enforcement officers have been injured in protests in Washington and 22 have been hospitalized.

 

Authorities are investigating seven fires set in violent protests in Washington over the weekend, and one person has been arrested and charged, said Regina Lombardo, acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Andy Sullivan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-05

 

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[cornishcarlos]

Aha, that elusive "3rd party" again... They get around don't they !!

[franzs]

same like in the fifties....everywhere were communists,

 

I think that the Trump administration realizes that they f.... up many things this year, 

now is finger pointing time to distract the people,

 

   

[LomSak27]

Oh, I am sure third parties are. However it is a little late in the game for Barr & Trump administration, if you can call it that, to be concerned.

[tonray]

"Foreign Interests" ....let me translate...the Russians doing it again...because you let them off the hook the first time.

[sungod]

A thought just sprang to mind, dont think I've ever met a Russian speaking black fella, suppose there is a few though.....

[Eric Loh]

Barr should look inwards for that extremist stoking division. 

[Tug]

Translation,making excuses for trumps heavy handed response the dudes toast come on November!!

[Chomper Higgot]

So let me get this right.

 

Federal prosecutors file charges against three members of a domestic rightwing extremist group, Barr responds by pointing at foreigners and Antifa.

[stevenl]

36 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Barr should look inwards for that extremist stoking division. 

Yes,vi have the same feeling. Now I don't have the Intel he has, but I really feel the present unrest comes from deep within US society, and both extreme left and right are putting oil on the fire.

[Phoenix Rising]

"Don't look this way, look over there, way waaay over there!"

Same old story used since the Russians were caught helping Trumps with the election result.

[Eric Loh]

4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes,vi have the same feeling. Now I don't have the Intel he has, but I really feel the present unrest comes from deep within US society, and both extreme left and right are putting oil on the fire.

More leaning to the self interest motive to divide rather than unify through behavior, policy and rhetoric. But you still right. 

[Phoenix Rising]

55 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes,vi have the same feeling. Now I don't have the Intel he has, but I really feel the present unrest comes from deep within US society, and both extreme left and right are putting oil on the fire.

We've seen the same thing every time there is widespread unrest in society, not only in the US but everywhere where there are organized protests against the government.

Extremists groups on both left and right (as well as purely criminal/non-ideological elements) will always try to take advantage of such a situation, because it is only in an environment of heightened hate and fear their twisted messages can gain traction.

Add to that a president without any kind of morals and scruples with a large 5th Ave type base, a spineless GOP that's completely and willingly bent over a barrel and 'presto!', you have the US of A in mid 2020.

Some cracks are forming but the GOP will not grow a spine unless forced to do so by a complete Trump meltdown.

 

'Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Thursday praised former Defense Secretary James Mattis' blistering critique of President Donald Trump as "true and honest and necessary and overdue." '

 

Hopefully all that's happening now will lead to a total decimation of the GOP come Senate elections and a thorough WH house disinfection in November.

 

'Trump Campaign Looks at Electoral Map and Doesn't Like What It Sees'

'The electoral map is tilting badly against Donald Trump right now'

 

"A series of polls in swing (and not-so-swing) states released Wednesday....:
* A Fox News poll in Arizona shows Joe Biden leading Trump 46% to 42%
* A Fox News poll in Ohio put Biden at 45% to Trump's 43%
* A Fox News poll in Wisconsin had Biden at 49% and Trump at 40%.
* A Quinnipiac University poll in Texas had the race at Trump 44%, Biden 43%.

"

Edited June 5, 2020 by Phoenix Rising

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, tonray said:

"Foreign Interests" ....let me translate...the Russians doing it again...because you let them off the hook the first time.

 

Russian, Chinese, Iranians, some African countries, some South American countries, Cuba etc etc etc.

 

What can the US expect. They have agencies that do exactly the same in other countries!

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So let me get this right.

 

Federal prosecutors file charges against three members of a domestic rightwing extremist group, Barr responds by pointing at foreigners and Antifa.

 

No. That's your usual sophistry shining through.

 

Barr's comments are probably factual. Only he doesn't like others doing to the US what the US has done to others for decades.

[Saint Nick]

Is this their attempt at "Russia, Russia, Russia...?"

 

[rudi49jr]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Attorney General Barr says foreign groups, extremists stoking divisions in U.S. protests

That’s rich, coming from a guy whose boss is - and has been since he took office - the most divisive factor in the country.

[Sujo]

Has trump said anything about right wing extremists at all. Has trump said anything about right wing extremists trying to blame antifa by inciting hatred with the fake antifa america twitter account?

 

Or is trump only concerned when black people do things.

[Emdog]

Extreme right and extreme left essentially the same in means and objectives. Explains how good Nazi guards had easy transition to good Stalinist guards.

[Boon Mee]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So let me get this right.

 

Federal prosecutors file charges against three members of a domestic rightwing extremist group, Barr responds by pointing at foreigners and Antifa.

That's right. 

Does the name George Soros ring a bell? 

[talahtnut]

Wall street banks and their Fed are causing

the biggest social division and fraud in history.

But that's not suitable for MSM.

Obviously Russian, China at work again..

Sigh..

 

[Brickbat]

Hopefully in the upcoming elections ,he and his rogue client will be Barred for good. Crazy system where rogues who get into power don't get fired for their corrupt ways .

[Proboscis]

These are the words of dictators running fake democracies. Putin blames foreign extremist elements, as does China in relation to Hong Kong, as does Cambodia . . . As did Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini.

 

It is a sick old song.

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

That's right. 

Does the name George Soros ring a bell? 

It does.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros

The poor guy is a frequent target for right wing conspiracy nutters.

 

Seriously, are you too lazy to even do a quick Google search??

Edited June 5, 2020 by Phoenix Rising

[Dap]

"He said 114 law enforcement officers have been injured in protests in Washington and 22 have been hospitalized."

Awww! Somehow, I just can't seem to even force a tear. Tell me again how many unarmed and peaceful demonstrators have been sent to jail or worse, the hospital or the morgue ???

[Caldera]

No idea what the clown is smoking.

[natway09]

I am sure there is a latent group in Thailand as well, ready to mobilize overnight whenever there is unrest that they can get their teeth into (for a non traceable fee of course)

Have a look at Hong Kong, it is just not in the average HKer's repetroire to resort to the violence we have seen

[Mavideol]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Attorney General Barr says foreign groups, extremists stoking divisions in U.S. protests

and the blaming starts, it did took some time but here they come, the easy way out... it's not us it's them,

[Traubert]

23 minutes ago, natway09 said:

I am sure there is a latent group in Thailand as well, ready to mobilize overnight whenever there is unrest that they can get their teeth into (for a non traceable fee of course)

Have a look at Hong Kong, it is just not in the average HKer's repetroire to resort to the violence we have seen

Quite.  Whats the purpose of the NED then Mr Aggrieved of Washington?

[RadicalVestor]

Barr and Trump are now 7 months away from jail. Most likely Otisville in NY for Trump, not sure about Barr.