Trump says sending federal agents to more U.S. cities to fight violent crime

[webfact]

Trump says sending federal agents to more U.S. cities to fight violent crime

By Jeff Mason and Sarah N. Lynch

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about a plan to send U.S. federal law enforcement agents to several cities to assist local police in combating what the Justice Department has described as a “surge” of violent crime, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 22, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump announced a plan on Wednesday to send federal agents to more U.S. cities to crack down on violent crime in an escalation of his "law and order" theme going into the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

Trump, joined at a White House event by Attorney General William Barr, unveiled an expansion of the "Operation Legend" program to include cities such as Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a further effort by federal officials to tackle violence.

 

"Today I'm announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime," said Trump.

 

Trump said "we have no choice but to get involved" with a rising death toll in some major cities.

 

"This bloodshed must end; this bloodshed will end," he said.

 

The program involves deploying federal law enforcement agents to assist local police in combating what the Justice Department has described as a "surge" of violent crime.

 

President Donald Trump announced a plan on Wednesday to send federal agents to more U.S. cities to crack down on violent crime as he emphasizes a "law and order" mantra going into the Nov. 3 presidential election.

 

Barr sought to differentiate the initiative from the use of federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security to quell unrest in Portland, Oregon, where local authorities have complained about the federal involvement.

 

He said the law enforcement personnel from a variety of agencies will serve as “street” agents and investigators who will be working to "solve murders and take down violent gangs."

 

"This is different than the operations and tactical teams we use to defend against riots and mob violence. We will continue to confront mob violence. But, the operations we are discussing today are very different – they are classic crime fighting," said Barr.

 

The Republican president has sharply criticized Democratic leaders for presiding over cities and states that are experiencing crime waves, using the issue as part of a "law and order" push he hopes will resonate with his political base. Trump is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in national opinion polls.

 

But the initiative risks inflaming tensions running high in many major cities in the wake of the death in police custody of Black man George Floyd.

 

It is not unusual for federal law enforcement to work alongside local partners. The Justice Department official said "Operation Legend" would provide additional resources to cities suffering from "traditional" violent crime.

 

Trump has emphasized a robust policing and military approach to the protests across the United States about racial inequality after Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

 

The White House has sought to focus on city crime even as Trump's approval numbers plummet in response to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The "Operation Legend" program involves federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies, partnering with local law enforcement.

 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said federal intervention was not required to help with violence in New York City, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also urged Trump not to send unidentified federal agents to her city.

 

"Operation Legend" is named for LeGend Taliferro, a 4-year-old boy who was shot and killed while he slept early June 29 in Kansas City, Missouri, according to the Department of Justice's website.

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Sarah Lynch; writing by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-23

 

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[Tippaporn]

Cue the howls of all the liberals who, rather than condemning the violence, condemn stopping the violence.

 

Hat tip EVENKEEL

[melvinmelvin]

 

some events in the process of getting slightly out of hand are they?

 

[Kelsall]

Thank you President Trump!

[Puchaiyank]

The rule of law has been severely tested over the past few years...the willful destruction of America's major cities has further eroded this important concept.  

 

Trump has all but begged Mayors in these cities under siege to use their law enforcement and state's National Guard to stop the looting, burning and defacing buildings...while receiving a daily barrage of BS from Democrats.

 

So far, the federal agents have been concentrating on the protection of Federal Buildings...

 

The lawlessness has gone on unabated for weeks and even months...

 

Time to reclaim American streets and restore a sense of safety and security to the hard working citizens who unwittingly support the protesters financially...

 

There may come a time where citizens take to the streets to remove the law breakers...one may need to break the law to restore the law...

[Tippaporn]

12 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Thank you President Trump!

It takes a great deal of courage to take positive action knowing that your critics are going to attempt to nail you to a cross.

[Tug]

38 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Cue the howls of all the liberals who, rather than condemning the violence, condemn stopping the violence.

 

Hat tip EVENKEEL

Yea I was really impressed when they tear gassed all those mommies last night this is trump pandering and distracting from the pandemic and economy and many condem unidenifyed troops in unmarked vans grabbing Americans practicing their first amendment rights off the streets and rightfully so 

[Tug]

4 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

It takes a great deal of courage to take positive action knowing that your critics are going to attempt to nail you to a cross.

Then why the unmarked and unidentifiable guys hummm no it’s an act of cowardice and desperation designed to impress his ever shrinking base if he cared he wouldent have waited for 10s of thousands of American deaths to recommend the use of masks no sir it’s just another self serving ploy and another assault on our democracy 

[jimmybcool]

This is a political mistake.  It doesn't matter that in some cities action is needed due to incompetence by local leadership such as Chicago, Portland and other places.  Media will spin it all as "facism" and turn it against the president.

 

I feel for the decent people in the cities impacted.  But they should have been more active in electing real leaders not morons like Lori Lightfoot or Ted Wheeler.  Perhaps in the upcoming election they will remember which party was in control that allowed their cities to burn.

 

 

 

 

[jimmybcool]

3 minutes ago, Tug said:

Then why the unmarked and unidentifiable guys hummm no it’s an act of cowardice and desperation designed to impress his ever shrinking base if he cared he wouldent have waited for 10s of thousands of American deaths to recommend the use of masks no sir it’s just another self serving ploy and another assault on our democracy 

There are no unmarked or unidentifiable "guys".  All police are badged and wearing ID to the unit they report to.  Yet another bogus meme made up and propagated by the left.  

[impulse]

11 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

There are no unmarked or unidentifiable "guys".  All police are badged and wearing ID to the unit they report to.  Yet another bogus meme made up and propagated by the left.  

 

You sure?

 

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/07/unidentified-federal-agents-detaining-protesters-in-portland.html

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/portland-police-federal-agents-gas-protesters-71873950

 

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by impulse

[Brunolem]

America will soon have to chose between two paths:

 

- civil war, or

 

- split the country, like the former Yugoslavia did, into two new countries: the USA, run by conservatives, and the USSA, run by marxists.

 

 

 

[Tippaporn]

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

You sure?

 

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/07/unidentified-federal-agents-detaining-protesters-in-portland.html

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/portland-police-federal-agents-gas-protesters-71873950

I'm sure.  Just a question . . . why link to fake news articles?  Note:  The video has been linked to start at the relevant time.

 

 

[Tippaporn]

36 minutes ago, Tug said:

Then why the unmarked and unidentifiable guys hummm no it’s an act of cowardice and desperation designed to impress his ever shrinking base if he cared he wouldent have waited for 10s of thousands of American deaths to recommend the use of masks no sir it’s just another self serving ploy and another assault on our democracy 

Reports of unmarked and unidentifiable guys is bogus.  Try researching yourself rather than unquestionably believing fake news stories.

[Tug]

44 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

This is a political mistake.  It doesn't matter that in some cities action is needed due to incompetence by local leadership such as Chicago, Portland and other places.  Media will spin it all as "facism" and turn it against the president.

 

I feel for the decent people in the cities impacted.  But they should have been more active in electing real leaders not morons like Lori Lightfoot or Ted Wheeler.  Perhaps in the upcoming election they will remember which party was in control that allowed their cities to burn.

 

 

 

 

Un idenifyed troops in unmarked cars pulling American citizens practicing their FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS off the streets isent media spin it is an assault on our democracy and a distraction ploy by an failed administration 

[TopDeadSenter]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

It takes a great deal of courage to take positive action knowing that your critics are going to attempt to nail you to a cross.

Yes it's possibly the bravest moment of his Presidency(and there have been some heroic actions - out-staring  Iran, Kim and Xi a dozen times is epic too!). He can not win personally by sweeping these violent and democrat endorsed leftists off the streets. A personal disaster for Trump, he will be called a nazi, a white supremacist, fascist, probably some inane orange nonsense as usual. The legacy media will maul him, polls will tank. But he doesn't care.

 

 The Trump administration does not cower to violent leftists no matter what legacy support they have in their goal to end traditional nuclear families, capitalism, the police and a free America. God bless Donald Trump. Supporting the silent majority, and ensuring a safe and level playing field for all.

 

  

[impulse]

53 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I'm sure.  Just a question . . . why link to fake news articles?  Note:  The video has been linked to start at the relevant time.

 

I could send you 100 more links referring to unidentified federal law enforcement...  But you can use Google.  They're not all fake, given the very clear videos in a lot of them.

 

Even the Sec'y of Defense isn't pleased...

 

https://news.yahoo.com/esper-concerned-over-federal-agents-191541558.html

Edited July 23, 2020 by impulse

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Kelsall said:

Thank you President Trump!

Thank you for what?

Sending federal agents to cities who never asked for them?

If the cities would need support with their law enforcement they would have asked. They didn't! 

[OneMoreFarang]

And they call it the land of the free...

 

[Tippaporn]

26 minutes ago, impulse said:

I could send you 100 more links referring to unidentified federal law enforcement...  But you can use Google.  They're not all fake, given the very clear videos in a lot of them.

 

Even the Sec'y of Defense isn't pleased...

 

https://news.yahoo.com/esper-concerned-over-federal-agents-191541558.html

The link you provided makes no mention of unidentified federal law enforcement.  Here's Esper's concern and this article is strictly about that concern.

 

"Defense Secretary Mark Esper has raised concerns within the administration about federal agents patrolling the streets of U.S. cities in camouflage uniforms similar to those worn by troops in war zones, his spokesperson said Tuesday."

 

Please post the other 99 links.  Or maybe some of the "very clear videos"?  Maybe you'll have a 'hit'?

[Mama Noodle]

America is such a fascist country that in some cities blac bloc anarchists aren’t allowed to destroy federal property, state property, local businesses and assault people say in and day out. 
 

????

[Tippaporn]

28 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And they call it the land of the free...

 

So misleading to post this pick with your comment.  But you know that.

 

The Land of the Free does not mean that you are free to commit violence, loot, engage in arson, deface public property or the like.  The pictured officers are combating that illegal behaviour.

 

Again, so misleading.

[Tippaporn]

33 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Thank you for what?

Sending federal agents to cities who never asked for them?

If the cities would need support with their law enforcement they would have asked. They didn't! 

More misleading arguments.  If the cities ruling establishment would do something about the violence and criminal acts then federal agents would not need to be sent.  You're forgetting to mention that mayors and governors are failing in the Constitutional responsibilities.  You know, like maintaining law and order.

 

How about asking the question, why aren't these mayors and governors doing anything to stop the mayhem?  Or are you another one of those libs who confuse riots with peaceful protests and support the mayhem through deceptive logic?

[Tippaporn]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Un idenifyed troops in unmarked cars pulling American citizens practicing their FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS off the streets isent media spin it is an assault on our democracy and a distraction ploy by an failed administration 

No matter how many times it will be clarified that law enforcement officials are identified as such there will be libs who will continue to post the lie.

 

First amendment rights do not include violence, looting, pillaging, destruction of property, arson and other anarchistic behaviour.   You seem to be of the opinion that these things are covered.

 

There isn't a stitch of truth to your comment.

[Tippaporn]

1 hour ago, b17 said:

If these 'special' Sturmabteilung are so useful, and all the news suggesting otherwise is 'fake', could one of you fine Trump supporters please explain to me why both the Governor of Oregon and the Mayor of Portland have demanded that all Federal agents leave immediately? Oh, it is a confirmed story through every news organization save a particular one that used to be preferred by der Furhrer until someone had the audacity to prove him a liar on national television. 

 

I'll wait 

You're wait is over.  Because they're liberal Democrats with very bad agendas.

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He said the law enforcement personnel from a variety of agencies will serve as “street” agents and investigators who will be working to "solve murders and take down violent gangs."

All this is still part of the " make America great again " program ...?

Well , that failed miserably .

Trump failed miserably .

[Boon Mee]

2 hours ago, Kelsall said:

Thank you President Trump!

And it's about time. These out of control anarchists and evil doers need to be shut down. 

 

MAGA 

[nobodysfriend]

3 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

And it's about time. These out of control anarchists and evil doers need to be shut down. 

 

MAGA 

 And it's about time. These out of control anarchists and evil doers need to be shot down... ?

[Peterw42]

6 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

And it's about time. These out of control anarchists and evil doers need to be shut down. 

 

MAGA 

Agreed, these federal agents operating outside of their jurisdiction, for Trumps political ends, do need to be shut down

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Agreed, these federal agents operating outside of their jurisdiction, for Trumps political ends, do need to be shut down

They'll (law enforcement) be happy to leave when the terrorists leave.