U.S. Justice Dept weighs stripping federal funds from cities allowing 'anarchy'

By Sarah N. Lynch

 

FILE PHOTO: SWAT team members travel in an armored vehicle past a sign with a list of protester demands as Seattle Police retake the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) area, including their East Precinct, in Seattle, Washington, U.S. July 1, 2020. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Monday threatened to revoke federal funding for New York City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, saying the three liberal cities were allowing anarchy and violence on their streets.

 

"We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance," Attorney General William Barr said in a statement.

 

In a joint statement, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan accused the Trump administration of playing politics and said withholding federal funds would be illegal.

 

“This is thoroughly political and unconstitutional. The president is playing cheap political games with congressionally directed funds. Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House," they said.

 

Many cities across the United States have experienced unrest since the May death of George Floyd. In some cases the protests have escalated into violence and looting.

 

The federal government has mounted a campaign to disperse the violence, including by sending federal agents into Portland and Seattle and encouraging federal prosecutors to bring charges.

 

Last week, the Justice Department urged federal prosecutors to consider sedition charges against protesters who have burned buildings and engaged in other violent activity.

 

Monday's threat to revoke federal funds was the government's latest escalation in its quest to curb the protests.

 

It comes after President Donald Trump earlier this month issued a memo laying out criteria to consider when reviewing funding for states and cities that are "permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities.”

 

The criteria include things such as whether a city forbids the police from intervening or if it defunds its police force.

 

In all three cities, the Justice Department said, the leadership has rejected efforts to allow federal law enforcement officials to intervene and restore order, among other things.

 

In a press briefing earlier on Monday, New York City Corporation Counsel Jim Johnson promised a court battle if the Trump administration proceeds to cut off the funds.

 

"The president does not have the authority to change the will of Congress," he said.

 

"The designation of 'anarchy' doesn't even pass the common sense test. If need be we can send, in addition to our legal filings, a dictionary. Because what we have in New York is not anarchy."

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg and Maria Caspani in New York City; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

I don’t wish to get involved in American politics as I am not American but the actions of so many so called Protesters could clearly  be classed as anarchy . The peaceful protests where people express an opinion has seemingly been hijacked, result is many are now condemning any and all protests. The cry for law and order is gaining momentum and sadly it may not be settled by the ballot box.

42 minutes ago, PJPom said:

I don’t wish to get involved in American politics as I am not American but the actions of so many so called Protesters could clearly  be classed as anarchy . The peaceful protests where people express an opinion has seemingly been hijacked, result is many are now condemning any and all protests. The cry for law and order is gaining momentum and sadly it may not be settled by the ballot box.

Apparently you don’t know the history of the USA.  Where do you get your news?

When people lose hope, this is what happens.

Why do you think this is happening?  I guess it has nothing to do with police overreach, inequality, the government doing nothing for the people during COVID-only companies and corporations...

Its not a federal government issue in any case.

It has much to do with who is President aggravating the situation. 

23 minutes ago, Redline said:

Apparently you don’t know the history of the USA.  Where do you get your news?

When people lose hope, this is what happens.

Why do you think this is happening?  I guess it has nothing to do with police overreach, inequality, the government doing nothing for the people during COVID-only companies and corporations...

Its not a federal government issue in any case.

It has much to do with who is President aggravating the situation. 

 

Er, wasn't it to do with a African American being appallingly killed by police whilst they attempted to arrest him? (I watched the video on a French site and it was clear the deceased was terrified even while still sitting in his own car begging not to be harmed). He was the latest, at the time, in a long list of African Americans killed by police in rather odd circumstances. Only this time it was caught on many phone videos for all to see.

 

The ensuing understandable protests were hi-jacked by the looters, criminals, anarchists, trouble makers, and radical left who turned them into anti establishment riots, theft bonanzas and political intimidation. Which inevitably brings a response from the ultra right. Lives were lost.

 

It seems a failure of law enforcement at all levels by politicians trying to use it for party and personal political advantage. Trump and his supporters calling for law and order whilst Harris and other leading democrats setting up funds to bail out those arrested for looting, arson and vandalism.

 

Hopefully, one day, and one day soon, people will wake up to how politicians of all sides manipulate them,

1 hour ago, PJPom said:

I don’t wish to get involved in American politics as I am not American but the actions of so many so called Protesters could clearly  be classed as anarchy . The peaceful protests where people express an opinion has seemingly been hijacked, result is many are now condemning any and all protests. The cry for law and order is gaining momentum and sadly it may not be settled by the ballot box.

The "anarchy" sweeping through Portland is in a two block area.

I get reports from my friends in Portland, my home town. Also from friends in Seattle.

MSM is complicit in making it appear like total chaos, sadly.

"If it bleeds, it leads" maybe add "If it burns, it earns"?

They voted to defund their police.  Karma.

The optics in these dem cities  showing the  physical and verbal abuse on these first responders during the mayhem/riots and what they had to put up with is hardly even mentioned in news reports!

The thin blue line! 

To think if only those people who have issues with the police would just obey law enforcement commands and not resist arrest!

 

Just go to court and hash it out there!

 

 

Great decision by Trump.  Why give federal dollars to cities who do not protect life and property of their citizens?

5 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Great decision by Trump.  Why give federal dollars to cities who do not protect life and property of their citizens?

Yes, much better spent on building more walls, jails,  or giving to the already rich.

If Trump loses in November, I have no doubt Barr will be rapidly following him out the door.

Why? He has the power to fix it but refuses.

48 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

They voted to defund their police.  Karma.

You obviously have no idea what defunding means.

Trump again using the DOJ office for the wrong purpose.Trump forgets that every state pays huge amounts of money to the Fed Gov. Two can play the same game they can withhold payment however I bet both actions are illegal. So off to another round of Trump court arguments. The man is a loser!

4 hours ago, PJPom said:

I don’t wish to get involved in American politics as I am not American but the actions of so many so called Protesters could clearly  be classed as anarchy . The peaceful protests where people express an opinion has seemingly been hijacked, result is many are now condemning any and all protests. The cry for law and order is gaining momentum and sadly it may not be settled by the ballot box.

I believe the duly constituted government declared exactly the need for law and order many times ... from the founding of the USA through the civil War, Civile Rights Era, etc. One can focus on the rebellion OR use some thought to address the reasons for the rebellion. The madness will continue until the underlying issue is addressed.

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Er, wasn't it to do with a African American being appallingly killed by police whilst they attempted to arrest him? (I watched the video on a French site and it was clear the deceased was terrified even while still sitting in his own car begging not to be harmed). He was the latest, at the time, in a long list of African Americans killed by police in rather odd circumstances. Only this time it was caught on many phone videos for all to see.

 

The ensuing understandable protests were hi-jacked by the looters, criminals, anarchists, trouble makers, and radical left who turned them into anti establishment riots, theft bonanzas and political intimidation. Which inevitably brings a response from the ultra right. Lives were lost.

 

It seems a failure of law enforcement at all levels by politicians trying to use it for party and personal political advantage. Trump and his supporters calling for law and order whilst Harris and other leading democrats setting up funds to bail out those arrested for looting, arson and vandalism.

 

Hopefully, one day, and one day soon, people will wake up to how politicians of all sides manipulate them,

Agree, the blatant injustice was the spark and that the justified frustration/anger has been building as a result of the policies of both political parties over the past few decades. The madness continues until the underlying issue is addressed.

2 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Great decision by Trump.  Why give federal dollars to cities who do not protect life and property of their citizens?

You are not American? If you were you should have been taught that congress, not the President, funds the government.

2 hours ago, riclag said:

The optics in these dem cities  showing the  physical and verbal abuse on these first responders during the mayhem/riots and what they had to put up with is hardly even mentioned in news reports!

The thin blue line! 

To think if only those people who have issues with the police would just obey law enforcement commands and not resist arrest!

 

Just go to court and hash it out there!

 

 

I encourage you to study more history. when the system allows injustice it results in justified frustration/anger. The madness continues until the underlying issue is addressed.

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

If Trump loses in November, I have no doubt Barr will be rapidly following him out the door.

If 45 loses, Barr will likely wind up in an orange jump suit in an adjoining cell at the grey bar hotel.

3 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

They voted to defund their police.  Karma.

Naaa it’s a distraction old trumps trying to get his base in a frenzy and keep msm distracted from the epic 200,000 dead Americans the stock market tanking global warming corrupting the courts attempting to rig the election destroy health care during the pandemic just the usual trump fiascos just a distraction imo

1 hour ago, wwest5829 said:

3 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Great decision by Trump.  Why give federal dollars to cities who do not protect life and property of their citizens?

You are not American? If you were you should have been taught that congress, not the President, funds the government.

Nope.  Lived there most of my life.  Sure, Congress has the power of the purse.  But that's just the short of it.

 

New York Post - Trump orders review to defund NYC, other ‘anarchist’ cities

 

From President Trump's memo:  “To ensure that Federal funds are neither unduly wasted nor spent in a manner that directly violates our Government’s promise to protect life, liberty, and property, it is imperative that the Federal Government review the use of Federal funds by jurisdictions that permit anarchy, violence, and destruction in America’s cities.”

 

It's understood that any action President Trump deems he can take legally will be met with lawsuits.  But if he can find ways within legal means then go for it.  Why in the world would anyone be in support of allowing funds to be used for the benefit of the people to continue to flow to them when these Dem mayors and Governors are abdicating their responsibilities to protect their citizens from violence?  You're arguing for an upside down world.

This will get struck down by the courts.

 

Meanwhile, it’s a dumb move that plays well to Trump’s dwindling base but wins him no votes and is galvanizing opposition to his presidency.

11 hours ago, Redline said:

It has much to do with who is President aggravating the situation.

Your country is at war with an invisible enemy and it's not just the virus - what's happening here is a symptom of that.

15 hours ago, Sujo said:

You obviously have no idea what defunding means.

"Prevent from continuing to receive funds".  Not the incorrect realocation of funds definition that has been created for the political purposes of deflection.  Just a quick google search.

16 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Great decision by Trump.  Why give federal dollars to cities who do not protect life and property of their citizens?

 

great decision!  set precedent!  shirley you won't complain when president harris defunds cities or states that don't follow the democrat script.

 

what??? school vouchers? home-schooling? concealed carry? no lgbtqmouse rights/quotas????  [insert dog whistle item here]................. defund them!!!!!

On ‎9‎/‎22‎/‎2020 at 3:26 PM, Lacessit said:

Yes, much better spent on building more walls, jails,  or giving to the already rich.

If Trump loses in November, I have no doubt Barr will be rapidly following him out the door.

I don't think he will lose .  The "Silent majority"  is on the side of law and order .   We don't like to see our cities burned by people with political agendas .  Go vote and change the program if you don't like it  --  don't go out and burn the country down . 

13 minutes ago, sangtip2 said:

I don't think he will lose .  The "Silent majority"  is on the side of law and order .   We don't like to see our cities burned by people with political agendas .  Go vote and change the program if you don't like it  --  don't go out and burn the country down . 

 

Again with the 'silent majority'? Not getting tired of this nonsense? Where was this majority in 2016? 2018? Or any polls between then and now? All the more inane as the next argument is almost invariably that the popular vote doesn't mean anything.

 

You do not speak for any "we".

 

Hyperbole aside, cities were not burned, the country certainly wasn't.

On 9/23/2020 at 12:51 AM, ukrules said:

Your country is at war with an invisible enemy and it's not just the virus - what's happening here is a symptom of that.

The enemy that is mulitiple shades of orange?

On 9/22/2020 at 2:41 PM, Emdog said:

The "anarchy" sweeping through Portland is in a two block area.

I get reports from my friends in Portland, my home town. Also from friends in Seattle.

MSM is complicit in making it appear like total chaos, sadly.

"If it bleeds, it leads" maybe add "If it burns, it earns"?

There is hardly anyone protesting, it's always maybe 2 dozen people here or there.. and sometimes there is a 'big' protest like when the AG announces Breona Taylor charges and a few hundred people show up.. and all the while this sham organization BLM is collecting hundreds of millions $s from billionaires and corporations and paying these idiots to protest.

19 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Again with the 'silent majority'? Not getting tired of this nonsense? Where was this majority in 2016? 2018? Or any polls between then and now? All the more inane as the next argument is almost invariably that the popular vote doesn't mean anything.

 

You do not speak for any "we".

 

Hyperbole aside, cities were not burned, the country certainly wasn't.

it was voting for trump

36 minutes ago, pkspeaker said:

it was voting for trump

 

I've no idea what you thought you're trying to say. There was no majority voting for Trump.

On 9/24/2020 at 5:08 PM, Morch said:

 

I've no idea what you thought you're trying to say. There was no majority voting for Trump.

it was close enough of a majority that he won.. sandg was right-the vast majority of american's are on the side of law and order and that will be very evident in November.. BLM/antifa has no real support.. it's a sham bankrolled by billionaires and multi-national corporate a-holes.. it goes around in small groups 'protesting' against the latest killing of a violent repeat offender that was on drugs at the time of his altercation with police.. ridiculous