Unformat is protecting people who are peacefully protesting, but will actively pursue those who loot and cause violence. This is an hour. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for joining us at this remote press conference. Over the constitution avenue entrance to this building is a latin inscription that translates, everything is created by law and order. That ancient principle still holds true. Our free Society Depends on the rule of law. The assurance that ordinary citizens can go about their lives without being subject to arbitrary violence or fear. When the rule of law breaks down, the promise of america does, also. Our nation is now confronting two serious challenges to the rule of law. The first is a longstanding one, but was recently crystallized and driven home by the killing of george floyd in minneapolis. The video of the Police Conduct in this episode, as i said before is harrowing. When you watch it, and imagine that one of your own loved ones was being treated this way and begging for their lives, it is impossible for any normal human cannot to be struck to the heart with horror. This matter is being pursued by both the state and the federal government. The state has filed already Second Degree murder charges against one of the officers and aiding and abetting charges against the other three officers. As we typically do in cases such as this, the department of justice and the fbi is conducting a parallel and independent investigation into possible violations of federal civil rights laws. The president has directed me to spare no effort. We are coordinating our work with the attorney general of minnesota, and as a matter of comity, the department of justice typically lets the state go forward with its proceedings first. This afternoon, our United States attorney in minnesota and the fbi special agent in charge of our minneapolis field office, the fbis field office, will attend a Memorial Service for mr. Floyd. Today is a day of mourning and the day is coming soon, i am confident, when justice will be served. George floyds death was not the first of its kind and it exposes concerns that reach far beyond this particular case. While the vast majority of Police Officers do their job bravely and righteously, it is undeniable that many africanamericans lack confidence in our american criminal justice system. This must change. Our constitution mandates equal protection of the laws and nothing less is acceptable. As the nations leading federal Law Enforcement agency, the department of justice will do its part. I believe that Police Chiefs and Law Enforcement officials and leaders around the country are committed to ensuring that racism plays no part in Law Enforcement, and that everyone receives equal protection of the laws. In october, 2019, the president established the First Commission on Law Enforcement since the 1960s. And i am meeting with them later this month and i have been talking to Law Enforcement leaders around the country. And in the weeks and months ahead, we will be working with Community Leaders to find Constructive Solutions so that mr. Floyds death will not have been in vain. We will work hard to bring good out of bad. Unfortunately, the aftermath of George Floyds death has produced a second challenge to the rule of law. While many have peacefully expressed their anger and grief, others have hijacked protests to engage in lawlessness. Violent rioting, arson, looting of businesses and public property, assaults on Law Enforcement officers and innocent people, and even the murder of a federal agent. Such senseless acts of anarchy are not exercises of First Amendment rights. They are crimes designed to terrify fellow citizens and intimidate communities. As i told the governors on monday, we understand the distinction between three different sets of actors here. The large preponderance of those who are protesting are peaceful demonstrators who are exercising their First Amendment rights. At some demonstrations, however, there are groups that exploit the opportunity to engage in such crimes as looting. And finally, at some demonstrations, there are extremist agitators who are hijacking the protests to pursue their own separate and violent agenda. We have evidence that antifa and other similar extremist groups, as well as of actors of a variety of political persuasions have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity and were also seeing foreign actors playing all sides to exacerbate the violence. The department of justice is working to restore order in the District Of Columbia and around the nation. Here in washington, we are working with the local police, the citizen soldiers of the National Guard, and other federal agencies to provide safety and justice. We have deployed all the major Law Enforcement components of the department on this mission, including the fbi, the a. T. F. , the dea, the bureau of prisons and the u. S. Marshal service the leaders are with me today and i thank all of these leaders and their components for working bravely and professionally to protect the district. Pleased to say that especially over the last two nights the demonstratio demonstrations, while large have been peaceful. The Justice Department is also working closely with our state and local partners to address violent riots around the country. Our federal Law Enforcement efforts are focused on the violent instigating. Through the fbi, u. S. Attorneys offices, component field offices and state and local enforcement, we are receiving realtime intelligence and we have deployed resources to quell outbreaks of violence in several places. I urge governors and mayors and other state and local leaders to work closely with the National Guard and with us. The federal government has thus far made 51 arrests for federal crimes in connection with violent rioting. We will continue to investigate, to make arrests and to prosecute where warranted. When i was attorney general in 1995 1992, riots broke out in los angeles following the acquittal by the state of Police Officers accused of beating rodney king. Ultimately, the department of justice, at my direction, filed federal civil rights charges against those officers. As president bush assured the nation at that time, quote, the violence will end, justice will be served, hope will return. The same is true today. The rule of law will prevail. Thank you. Now id like to introduce my colleague, chris wray, the director of the fbi. And i have to say, this is the if ib fbi ive had the pleasure of working with the last few days, the fbi that i know and love that have really stood up here and performed magnificently not only here in d. C. , but around the country and in all of their field offices and their enforcement functions, their intelligence functions are now in full gear and im confident that with the fbis leadership, we are going to deal effectively with the criminals who were involved in extremist violence. Chr chris. Thank you, general for your leadership. Good morning, this is, needless to say, an incredibly challenging time for our countries and for all the citizens that we serve. I want to begin by expressing my deepest sympathies for george floyd and his family. Like most of you, i was appalled and profoundly troubled by the video images of the incident that ended with mr. Floyds tragic death. Within hours of his death on may 25th, the fbi had opened a criminal investigation to determine whether the actions by the former Minneapolis PoliceDepartment Officers involved violated federal law. Were moving quickly in that investigation and were going to follow the facts wherever they may lead in our pursuit of justice. Mr. Floyds family, like a lot of families who have lost loved ones in recent weeks, are suffering right now and trying to find a way forward. In fact, our entire country is trying to find a way forward. Thats because this is not just about george floyd, this is about all of those over the years who have been unjustifiably killed or have their rights violated by people entrusted with their protection. When Law Enforcement fails to fulfill the most basic duty and fails to protect members of a particularly minority community, it not only tarnishes the badge we all wear, but erodes the trust that so many of us in Law Enforcement have worked so hard to build and when people feel that we havent lived up to the trust that they place in us, it is understandable that they want to speak out and protest and the fbi holds sacred the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment freedoms. Nonviolent protests are signs of a healthy democracy, not an ailing one. The fbis mission is to protect the American People and uphold the constitution. That mission is both dual and simultaneous. It is not contradictory. In engaging with our communities during those produces, we in Law Enforcement must balance the safety and security of our communities with our citizens Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties. One need not and must not come at the expense of the other. In recent days, the violence, threat to life and destruction of property that weve seen in some parts of the country,jeopardizes the rights and safety of all citizens, including peaceful demonstrators and it has to stop. Were seeing people who are exploiting this situation to pursue violent extremist agendas, like antifa and other agitators. Theyre rather than joining in equality and justice. Theyre undermining the work and constructive ingaugement of all of those trying to bring us together. Our community and religious leaders, our elected officials, Law Enforcement and citizens alike. Many have suffered from the violence instigated through these radicals and extremists, including members of our own Law Enforcement family. Officers killed or gravely injured while just doing their jobs, fulfilling their duty to the public by trying to keep everyone safe. To be clear, we are not in any way trying to discourage Peaceful Protesters and to those citizens who were out there making your voices heard through peaceful, lawful protests, let me say this, we in Law Enforcement hear you. We have to make sure that our policing and our investigations are conducted with the professionalism and commitment to equal justice that you all deserve. But we are also committed to identifying, investigating, and stopping individuals who are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity. So at the fbi, were focusing our efforts on supporting our Law Enforcement partners with maintaining Public Safety in the communities were all sworn to protect. Were making sure we are tightly latched up with our federal, local and partners across the country by setting up command posts in all of our 56 field offices. Law enforcement with opera apprehending and charging violent agitators who are hijacking peaceful protests. On a national level, we are soliciting tips, leads, and Video Evidence of criminal activity through our National Threat operations center. Over the past few days, ive been speaking with Law Enforcement leaders in various ive been speaking with Law Enforcement leaders in various parts of the country to ensure that we are providing the support they need and to let them know in every community the fbi stand ready to assist wherever we can. The relationships that weve built with our Law Enforcement and Community Partners is more important now than ever. Because the reality is we cant do our jobs without the trust of the American People. I want to close by reiterating that the fbi will remain steadfast in its mission to protect the American People and uphold the constitution. Protecting Civil Liberties and civil rights has been part of our mission since the days of the civil rights movement. Those investigations are at the heart of what we do for the simple reason that Civil Liberties and civil rights are at the very heart of who we are as americans. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal government largely led protection of civil rights the states and civil governments and it took the Mississippi Burning case and the Civil Rights Act for the federal government and the fbi to get off the sidelines it to begin to fully protect civil rights for all people of color. Since then weve been working hard to identify and prevent hate crimes andig to investigate abuses of power and authority. Our civil rights d cases are amg the most important work we do, and that will never change. I will repeat today what i have long believed about the men and women of Law Enforcement. It takes an incredibly special person to willingly put his or her life on the line for a complete stranger. And to get up day after day after day and do that is extraordinary. And in the struggle at times we wont forget the bravery of our Law Enforcement members who have wrist life and safety to protect the public and keep the peace. But the difficulty of that job doesnt diminish the role we play in society, which is to protect and serve all citizens, no matter their race, creed, orientation,ig or station in li. And when we lose sight of those solemn obligations to the citizens we serve, the protectors can quickly become thee oppressors, particularly fr communities of color. As Law Enforcement we are bound by an oath to serve all members of our community with equal compassion, professionalism, the committee, and respect. The American People should expect nothing less from us. Thank you. Dir. Washington good morning. I am donald washington, director of the United States marshals service. First of all, thank you, attorney general. Let me begin by especially noting that today marks the first of three days in which the family, friends, and loved ones will host memorials to honor the life of george floyd in minnesota, north carolina, and texas. On behalf of the men and women of the u. S. Marshals service, i extend my deepest sympathy and my heartfelt condolences to the family of george floyd. What started as peaceful protests in minnesota after the death of mr. Floyd has morphed into a national emergency, resulting in many injuries to many people, thousands of arrests, along with arson, theft, and vandalism to property in many cities. As of last night, u. S. Marshals report damage and vandalism to 21 federal courthouses located in 15 states and the District Of Columbia. There has been damage and vandalism. Vandalism to many other federal properties. The u. S. Marshals service is assisting other agencies and in efforts to address violent disturbances that have occurred in the District Of Columbia and in other cities around the United States. Peaceful protests are good for our country. This right should be respected by all persons and this right absolutely deserves the full protection of officers of the law. Among our basic functions is the absolute duty to protect people who are exercising Constitutional Rights. However, rioters, arsonists, thieves, looters, and their protagonists are criminals. They have undermined peaceful and lawful demonstrations and protests. These criminals threaten our basic Constitutional Rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and they must be brought to justice. Since the earliest days just after our nations birth, u. S. Marshals have worked to ensure the rule of law by making sure that the federal judiciary and the federal judicial process operate unfettered and unintimidated. We have worked tirelessly over the years to bring thousands and thousands of fugitives to justice and today, one of our primary missions is to find and protect endangered children. In the last week, u. S. Marshals have coordinated with u. S. Attorneys and state and local partners to protect protesters and to address the criminal acts of others. Deputy u. S. Marshals are assisting with and conducting criminal investigations required by the criminal acts of persons instigating and causing violence against persons and property. Where such acts violate federal laws. Working with our local Law Enforcement partners, we are also securing federal properties threatened by criminal acts and protecting persons from the violent acts of others. I believe strongly that this special mission is important to our democracy. We will protect those who are engaged in lawful protests, but we will arrest those who commit felonies in our presence. We are working Violent Crime warrants and investigating gang activities that incite riots or terrorism. We are assisting in partnering with federal, state, and local authorities consistent with our broad federal jurisdiction. To our local governments and private sector leaders, we know we are stronger, much stronger, when we work together. We will achieve our collective goals of protecting lawful protesters and lawful protests while also enforcing the law. I do not pretend even for a moment to speak for the other leaders here, but i am certain that we are we all want local leaders to have the confidence and the conviction to request and utilize all available resources to fight violence and to protect our communities. The u. S. Marshals service is your partner, too. In summary, the u. S. Marshals service will continue to perform our many daytoday missions and we will also assist our federal, state, and local partners during this emergency. We will work urgently to keep citizens and Law Enforcement safe. I thank our concerned citizens for their patience and continuing support and i look forward to any questions you might have. And for the continuing support, and i lookk forward to any questions you might have. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is regina lombardo, the acting director of atf. For many special agents one of the proudest moments is when you raise your righte hand to take the oath of office to support and defend the trendy constitution. United states constitution. What we will be faced with. What challenges we will have to overcome in order to uphold the oath we took. In this moment today, we express our warmest sympathies to the family of george floyd and acknowledge the pain and suffering of his family. We also have sympathy for those who are suffering across the country. Unfortunately, where our constitutionally protected right to peacefully assemble has sometimes turned to riots and criminal acts, the resulting crimes, has involved shootings, burglaries, arsons, bombings, especially destructive devices such as a molotov cocktail. At the request of the attorney general, atf has provided every available resource. We have deployed a large number of special agents, our special Response Team here in our nations capital. We have supported the washington metropolitan Police Department, the United States secret service, and the United States park police to protect the public, property, and the National Landmarks that belong to each and every one of you. Our national Response Teams are hree here in washington, d. C. , in order to quickly respond to the emerging arson incidents. We are working with the d. C. Fire to investigate the seven incendiary fires in the d. C. Area caused by criminals, including the arson at st. Johns church, the aflcio, the National Park service building, and the d. C. Fire district four Police Department. The individual we believe responsible for that fire at the metro pds Fourth District has been arrested and charged. Our certified fire investigators investigators, chemists, and engineers and specialists are working around the clock to support the ongoing safety of operations. Across the country, atf special agents, industry operation investigators from all divisions are responding to shootings, arsons, bombings, and theft of federal firearms license dealers. We are providing investigative support and assistance to all of our local and state partners. Atf has responded to numerous shooting scenes at the disturbances of cities and is actively working with Law Enforcement and we are entering those shell casings into our National Integrated ballistic information network. Our National Tracing Center is running traces on the firearms and we are collecting dna from shell casings and ballistic evidence. Our crimes and Intelligence Centers are collecting valuable intelligence and sharing all of that information in a joint environment. Atf jttf representatives are working with the fbi in multiple cities as well as our department of justice partners, the u. S. Marshals service, the dea, and the bureau of prisons. All state and local federal Law Enforcement working in partnership. Our special agents and certified fire investigators are tracking and assisting more than 847 arsons. Over 76 explosive incidents, and providing valuable Technical Expertise and intelligence support. Two of our national Response Teams, nrt, have been activated and responding to minneapolis and st. Paul, minnesota. We have developed efficient and effective strategies to triage and quickly assess the scenes even in an unstable environment. Atf has also responded to 73 federal firearms licensed dealers. We have identified many suspects and made arrests and recovered many firearms already. We have responded to assaults and murders of our Law Enforcement partners. Our team of atf professionals at our National Correlation center, our laboratories, and tracing center are working day and night to make those arrests. We are on the streets, making cases and protecting the American Public from violent criminals. You do not have to be in Law Enforcement to know that this is dangerous work. Atf has answered the call. As the attorney general stated, the most basic function of government is to provide security for the people who live their lives and exercise their rights. For the people who live their lives and exercise their rights. And will meetil that responsibility. This is our mission, and we deeply are committed to that mission to protect and serve. Thank you. Good morning. My name is michael carbajal, the director the federal bureau of prisons. The bureau of prison staff are federal Law Enforcement officers are often called upon to assist during crisis situations within our communities. The attorney general ask the blp to request and assist other Law Enforcement agencies in maintaining order and peace in the District Of Columbia. Blp Crisis Management teams are highly trained to do with various types of emergency situations including crowd control and civil disturbances. They are experienced in confrontational avoidance and conflict resolution inde the aftermath of the tragic death of george floyd, it is unfortunae that these services are necessary. On behalf of the b. O. P. And its staff, i extend our we also respect the right of the public to express their frustration and greece. We appreciate those who seek to ensure they that threaten mr. Floyds death are never repeated again. Its shameful those voices are being drowned out by those seeking to incite violence and destroy property. Im proud of the work our staff do every day to keep our institutions safe, and honored they they were called upon to assist our communities. Thank you. My name is timothy shea, im the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement administration and am honored to represent the brave men and women of the dea and to share with you the important work our special agents have been performing the last few days. Moment to express my sincere condolences on behalf of myself and the men and women of the dea to the family and friends of george floyd, as well as to all those who mourn his passing. It was a tragedy for us, too, in Law Enforcement. The deas mission, like all Law Enforcement partners, is to protect the American People. Badge they receive their one ofdentials, every our special agents takes an oath to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. That is exactly what they are doing this week. As is the case with other significant events, our agents have been authorized to respond as needed to violations of federal law. I am proud of what our agency has done to assist our state and local partners. To ensure that those who wish to peacefully protest may do so in safety and without fear of violence. While these events have been largely peaceful, agitators continue to attempt to sow chaos. We have recovered weapons. We have had rocks thrown at our vehicles. Our agents, along with other Law Enforcement partners, have endured the continued verbal assaults. During that time, our agents have acted professionally and admirably under these difficult conditions. Dea special agents are providing security, conducting threat assessments, sharing that information on potential violations of federal law in realtime. In addition, the dea continues to investigate drug related crimes, including the theft of controlled substances from looted pharmacies, which is happening here in the District Of Columbia and around the country. In the national or capital region, approximately or over 150 dea special agents have partnered with the metropolitan Police Department at the request and the National Guard to enforce security posts and maintain a secure perimeter and in designated areas. Dea has provided over 11 mobile Response Teams who are prepared to respond to high risk situations and other requests for assistance including medical services. Dea owes much of its success in enforcing our nations drug laws to the assistance provided by the very federal, state, and local partners that need our help now. Every dea agent on the street helps to free up one of our local Law Enforcement counterparts to carry out their policing functions and protect the public. Dea is committed to providing that support as long as it is needed, requested, and authorized. Our country was founded upon basic principles and rights. Chief among them is the right of free speech and the right to assemble peaceably. We are supporting those rights and the peaceful demonstrators by ensuring their voices can be heard and that those seeking to exploit this situation are held to account. Held to account. Thank you. And with that ill open it up to questions. Thank you. To ask a question press star one. The first question comes from nbc news. Thank you, mr. Attorney general, washington d. C. Has expressed it in with large compex events that include protest like the inauguration or meetings of the world bank. Why did you think is necessary for you to take command of this and where does that Authority Come from . Well, i think the rioting got going i think on friday may 29, and got worse and worse over the weekend. It culminated or came to a crescendo over the weekend on sunday evening right around the white house on h street on the northern side of Lafayette Park. It was very serious rioting. The treasury annex, Treasury Department and ask there broken into. A Historical Building on Lafayette Park, which is federal property, was burned down. There was a fire set at the historical st. Johns church right there across from the white house. And an old church that goes back to the 18th century and is referred to as the church of president s. The riotersrs used crowbars to g out the pavers at Lafayette Park and use them as projectiles thrown it secret service, and other federal agents. There were numerous head injuries among the federal personnel whose responsibility is to protect the white house. Just to give an indication, from saturday until today, and virtually the lions share of these injuries came over the weekend. There were 114 injuries to Law Enforcement. Most of those to federal agents and most of those inflicted right around the white house. There were 22 hospitalizations, and most of those were serious head injuries or concussions that required monitoring and treatment. Monitoring and treatment. On monday, the president asked coordinate the various federal Law Enforcement agencies, not only the multiple agencies, of justice but also other agencies such as in the department of homeland security, so we had a response and worked National Guard and also d. C. Police. We decided we needed more of a buffer to protect the white house and our agents and secret Service Personnel who could be projectiles from the street. I made the decision that we try to move our perimeter northward by a block to provide additional protection, and met at 2 00, on monday, i with all the various Law Enforcement agencies, and we set tactical plan, and that plan involved moving our perimeter block north to i street. It was our hope to be able to do relatively quickly, before many demonstrators appeared that day. Of the ately, because ifficulty in getting appropriate forces units into place, by the time they were able to move our perimeter, number ofbeen a large protestors that had assembled on h street. Were projectiles being group was the increasingly unruly, and the operation they were asked three times if they would back one block. They refused. Our e proceeded to move street. Er out to i it is true that the metropolitan police have a lot of experience with demonstrations. Federal a lot of the federal city is the seat of the federal government. As you the buildings, know, and facilities here, and monuments, are the responsibility of the federal and the proceedings and process of the federal overnment take place here, and so when you have a large scale disturbance that is damaging federal property, property, g federal threatening federal law nforcement officers, threatening the officials in government and their offices, and our great monuments, its responsibility of the federal government to render we do so in on and with the dination metropolitan Police Department. Later that evening on monday as we did establish a buffer zone, we were able we are able to finish that day without further significant violence from the demonstrators. And then the following two days were peaceful. The assemblies and protests were peaceful. So we are pleased with that. We are working closely with the metropolitan police to plan out the remainder of the week. Next question. Abc news, go hit. Good afternoon, attorney general barr. A couple questions for you. Yesterday the department charged three members of the group or associate with the group but the loop, a far right extremist group. It is important in your remarks to point allll the different groups that are involved in this type of violent activity . The second question is, do you have any concerns that Law Enforcement could oppress been more surgical in how they operated on monday . Many other people who were moved forcibly Peaceful Protesters, sir. Well, i do think its important to point out the witches brew that we have of extremists individuals and groups that are involved, thats what in my prepared statement ii specifically said in addition to antifa and other extremist groups like antifa there were a variety of groups and people of variety of ideological persuasions. So i did make that point. Im not going to get too specific, but the intelligence being collected by our u. S. Attorneys office particularly and acquainted by the fbi from multiple different sources is building up. There are specific cases against individuals. Some are antifa related, some of the extremists are involved in egging on the violence and participating in violence, providing the means of violence. Means of providing the violence, and, you know, were cases. G those at the same time, there is a lot of, i would also add, there is a disinformation out there. People posing as different as of different groups. Sometimes you have to dig a ittle deeper to determine exactly whats going on, and groups that dont ideology otherar than anarchy. Groups that want to bring about a civil war, trying trying to exacerbate the violence. So were dealing with as i say a witches brew of a lot of different extremist organizations. Maybe chris would have something to add to that. Sure. I mean, let me say first as ive said for quite some time, including even my first few months in the job, we, the fbi, quite a number of ongoing investigations of violent anarchist extremists, including those motivated by an antifa or antifa like ideology, and we categorize entries is as domestic terrorism investigations and are actively pursuing them through our joint Terrorism Task forces. In the course of the current unrest, while majority of the protesters are peaceful, there are certainly instigators, agitators and opportunists seeking to split these demonstrations to commit violence or writing, and exactly who these people are, whos driving them, whats driving them, what tactics they use varies widely sometimes from city to city, sometimes even night tonight. We are working with all of our Law Enforcement partners to gather as much information as we can about that topic and to bring federal charges where appropriate. An possible. We are about the violence. Were not about the ideology, it doesnt matter what your ideology is, if you commit violence or rioting or ask that we would consider terrorism, we are going to pursue it. The second part of your question, p. A. Or, one of the difficult is that while there are peaceful demonstrators and participants in these protests, the instigators, those committed to violence basically shield themselves by going among them and carrying out acts of violence. I saw the projectiles on monday when i went to Lafayette Park to look at the situation. As one of the officials said, he pointed out various groups of people or the projectiles are coming from and we could see, and there were a lot of demonstrators. Its hard to know exactly where theyre coming from. Frequently these things are thrown from the rear of the demonstration. But we could not continue to protect the federal property involved and protect the safety of our agents with such a tight perimeter, and so our object was to move o it out by one block. Next question, please. Next question is from foxnews. Foxnews. Please go ahead. Hello, mr. Attorney general. Yesterday your colleagues the department of defense, secretary esper, expressed some regret inn the way that things were handled at Lafayette Park, lafayette square, posing in the picture with president trump, said he wants to stay apolitical, state other things. As you make it your this job in 1992. Usada string to write a king riots. What do you think about politics and do you believe youre being too politicalal in this i standn the picture with p the the pret in front of the church . What is your take on this compared to what secretary esper said . I i dont know what he was conveyingg there. Obviously, my interest was to carry out the Law Enforcement functions of the federal government and to protect federal facilities and federal personnel, and also to address the writing that was interfering with the government function. That was what we were doing. I think the president is the head of the executive branch and the chief executive of the nation, and should be able to walk outside the white house and walk across the street to the church the president. I dont necessarily view that as a political act. I think was entirely appropriate for him to do. I did not know that is going to do that until later in the day after our plans were well underway to move the perimeter. So there was no correlation between ourur tactical plan of living the perimeter out by one block and the president s going over to the church. President asked members of his cabinet to go over there with him, the two that were present, and i think was appropriate for us to go over with him. Next question. Thank you, mr. D attorney general. Can you expand a little bit on your comments that foreign actors are responsible or working to exploit all i see her . Think its organized effort from a Foreign Government and have youou identified which countries are responsible for that . And then have a separate question for director carvajal if i i could right after that. I might ask chris if you care to provide more detail, but people shouldnt think that countries that are hostile to the United States, that the efforts to influence the u. S. Or weaken the u. S. Or sow discord in u. S. Comes and goes with election cycle. It is constant. They are constantly trying to sow discord among our people, and theres lot of disinformation that circulates that way, and i believe that we have evidence that 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. Unless chris us something to can turn it over to not a whole lot i can say here, other than to say that it is unfortunately not unusual for foreign actors to choose to try to amplify events in this country, to sowve divisiveness d discord, and a particular through the use of state associated media from some of those countries but also social ania provides a bullhorn for amplifier to gin up more controversy where controversy might already exist, and to try to generate a people in that regard. Those foreign actors upheaval. Actors should know we are watching it extremely closely and are prepared to act if necessary. And what is your question for mr. Carbajal . Director, can you dress some concerns that event race last few days about the wp, specifiy some officers stationed in d. C. Have said theyrs were specificay told not to tell people that they work for the federal government . Last night we learn an inmate in brooklyn had died after officers use pepper spray on it after he barricaded himself. Do you hold concerned there that nonlethal force resulted in someones death . Thank you for the question. Let me clarify this. First of all, im not aware of any specific bureau of prisons personnel being told not to identify themselves. What i achieve and that too is probably the fact that we normally operate within the confines of our institution and we dont need to identify ourselves. Most of our identification is institution specific and probably would mean a lot to people in d. C. I probably shouldve done a better job of marking them as the agency. Point is welll taken but i assue you that no one was specifically told come to my knowledge, not to identify themselves. As foras your question regarding the incident in brooklyn, what i can tell you is we did do a press release with the information in there. It was used in an incident involving a disruptive individual down in his cell. The officers did utilize pepper spray, as you say. And afterwards the individual unfortunately died. What i will tell you is we immediately referred the case to the fbi and the office of Inspector General. I was actually told, notified this morning that the office of Inspector General is going to take thats case. Thats about all i can comment on because matter is under investigation. Let me just add that the bureau of prisons sort teams are used frequently for Emergency Response and emergency situations, either civil disturbances or hurricanes or other things like that. They are aat highly trained, highly trained units and, in fact, in the department of justice we do not really have large numbers of units that are trained to deal with civil disturbances. A lot of people make a looking back on history think we can call of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of u. S. Marshals, and that is simply not the case. Our marshals Response Force is approximately 100 u. S. Marshals. Historically, when there have been emergencies where we have to respond with people who do have experience in these types of emergencies, they are highly trained people. We use what are called sort teams, Response Teams from the bureau of prisons. I can say a number, the federal system, we dont wear badges with our name. The agents w dont wear that i just with of stuff like that which many civilian i mean nonfederal please agencies do. I could understand why some of these individuals simply wouldnt want to talk to people about who they are if that, in fact, with the case. Ill take the next question. Next question from the wall street journal. Go ahead. Can you hear me . Yes. Hoping you can explain how we coordinate the National Guard deployment and movement in and around washington with those of various federal Law Enforcement agencies. W did you communicate the orders for that and how does that work . It largely depends who they are supporting at thatrg time. Some of the National Guard were supporting the metropolitan Police Department and some of them would be out beyond the white house perimeter working the streets with mpd. So they would be tactically attached there. Others, we ask the National Guard to protect federal monuments, and so a number of the units, maybe even i wont speculate but a lot of units were dispersed around the city to protect federal monuments or particular federal facilities. Those that were within the white house area and were part of protecting the white house and Lafayette Park area were under the direction of the Tactical Commanders in that area. But in termsue of requesting the resources and asking for their assistance, that was ultimately my responsibility of ensuring that the National Guard that we needed to support Law Enforcement and support the district were brought to bear. Next question. Next question from the new york times. Please go ahead. Thank you so much for doing this press conference. I have two questions but the most important is probably i like to ask you about your thoughts. Police abuse of power. Ld lastpo year at the law enforcemt conference you said such abuse reflected bad apples with an systemic breakdowns but today you said George Floyd Steph is not the first of its kind of investment to get officesy do e job bravely, its undeniable many africanamericans lack confidence in the criminal justice system. So youre thinking about whether willy a systemic issue shifted over time . No. My views have shifted recently. What you quoted i think isuo consistent. You are addressing use Excessive Force, is that right . Is that what you are addressing or were you talking Excessive Force, yes. I do think that those who engage in Excessive Force that involves, remember, federal civil rights laws address willful use of Excessive Force, and those that engage in that kind of activity i think are a distinct minority. I think the overwhelming number of Police Officers try conscientiously to use appropriate and reasonable force. And then my second question wasnt just, it seems we are ratcheting up in the district the tools and the power of the federal response, giving dea, bop the power to make a rest. Im wondering why thats happening now . It seems the streets of a relatively calm and theres curfew tonight and i think that decision was made by the mayor because just confidence we have sort of returned to order. Will actually, after assessing the situation last night towards the l end of the evening, that is, late or maybe early in the morning, i felt that we could afford to collapse our perimeter and eliminate some of the checkpoints and so forth and take a little bit of a more lowprofile footprint, for a couple reasons. Number one, i think that we seen a sharp reduction in violent episodes and peaceful demonstrations. Episodes, and pel demonstrations, and our hope and expectation is that those will responsibility. Also, because we now have on hand sufficient resources, we deal with that ontingency if violence increases, so i do think that, over the weekend, and certainly the beginning of this week, we had a phenomenon around the ountry with a number of cities getting extremely violent. Have been ficers heard around the country a lot of victims. Property damage, and,s i said, on sunday, it was the peak of violence in d. C. On monday we were still facing very large demonstration that is belligerent and throwing projectiles. Evening ultimately ed more peacefully. Governors on its very important to use sufficient Law Enforcement in a ablish law and order city when you have riots running. If you use insufficient for rces it dangerous everybody. Its dangerous for the officers. Its dangerous for the protestors. Its dangerous for the population. Because things can easily get ut of control and you lose control of events. Riots are. And the way to address it is to make sure the resources are the and people understand resources are there to deal with that kind of violence. Occurred, it hat provides an environment where things could quiet down, and they did quiet down, and next. Okay. I think that was it. Appreciate everyones attendance, and i didnt want to appreciate the hard work done but all all of the men women Ie Department of justice and the Justice Department components, and their leaders. Thank you. Thank you all for coming today. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] today the government announced the latest unemployment figures. The Washington Post writes the federal Unemployment Rate declined the 13. 3 in may and that is done from 14. 7 in april. In april. The department of labor said friday aside the economy is improving more quickly than economists had projected. The economy picked up 2. 5 million jobs in may as many states and counties began to reopen with the slowing of coronavirus cases nationwide. Read more at washingtonpost. Com. Today congressman bobby rush, and Derrick Johnson and the mayor of st. Paul, minnesota, join axios for conversation on policing and racial inequality. Watch live at 12 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan2, online at cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Today, catholic archbishop of washington, d. C. Talks about the ongoing protests across the nation that were spotted by the depth of george floyd. Georgetown University Hosts the virtual event. Watch live at 12 p. M. Eastern on cspan2, online at cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. Today the Congressional Black Caucus older virtual town hall on race in america following days of protests over the death of george floyd. Watch live at 4 p. M. Eastern on cspan come on line cspan. Org or listen live on the free cspan radio app. And Memorial Service for george floyd was held in minneapolis. Family members and the reverend al sharpton spoke to the gathering. This is just over 90 minutes