Transcripts For CSPAN Attorney General Holds Briefing On Pro

Attorney general barr good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for joining us at this remote press conference. Over the constitution avenue entrance to this holding is a latin inscription. Translates, everything is created by law order. That 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. Onefirst is a longstanding , but was recently crystallized and driven home by the killing of george floyd in minneapolis. The video of the Police Conduct in this episode is harrowing. And imaginech it that one of your own loved ones was being treated this way, and begging for their lives, it is impossible for any normal human being not to be struck to the heart with horror. Pursued by is being 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 land independent investigator 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 matter of and ias a 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. Mourning, and of the days coming soon, i am confident, when that 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. Equalnstitution mandates 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. Sentieve that police chief Law Enforcement officials and leaders around the country are committed to ensuring that racism plays no part in law , 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, assault 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. Monday,d the governors we understand the distinction between three different sets of actors here. The large preponderance of those who are protesting our peaceful who are exercising their First Amendment rights. However,emonstrations, there are groups that exploit the opportunity to engage in such rhymes as looting. And finally, at some demonstrations, there are extremist agitators who are hijacking the protests to pursue violentn separate and agenda. We have evidence that antifa and other similar stream missed groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions, have been involved participating and in the violent activity. And we are also seeing foreign actors laying 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 local police, the citizensoldiers of the National Guard, and other federal agencies to provide safety and justice. We have deployed all the major lawenforcement components of the department on this mission, including the fbi, the atf, the dea, the bureau of prisons, and the u. S. Marshals service. Their leaders are with me today and we will be talking shortly. I think all these leaders and for workingents, bravely and professionally to protect the district. I am pleased to say that, especially over the last two nights the 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 instigators. Through the fbi, u. S. Attorney 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 when warranted. When i was attorney general in 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 i would like to introduce my colleague, chris wray, the director of the fbi. And i have to say this is the fbi that 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 their field offices. And their enforcement functions, their intelligence functions are now in full gear. And i am confident, with the fbis leadership, we are going to deal effectively with the criminals who were involved in extremist violence. Chris. Director wray thank you, general, for your leadership. Good morning. This is an incredibly challenging time for our country and for all the citizens 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 25, the fbi had opened a criminal investigation to determine whether the actions by the former Minneapolis Police Department Officers involved violated federal law. We are moving quickly in that investigation, and we are 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 had their rights violated by people entrusted with their protection. When Law Enforcement fails to fulfill its most basic duty to protect and serve its citizens, particularly members of 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 they place in us, it is understandable 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 these protests, we in Law Enforcement must balance the safety and security of our communities with our citizens Constitutional Rights. 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 we have seen in some parts of the country jeopardizes the rights and safety of all citizens, including peaceful demonstrators. And it has to stop. We are seeing people who are exploiting the situation to extremistlent, agendas. Anarchists like antifa, and other agitators. These individuals have set out to sow discord and up people, rather than restoring justice. And by driving us apart, they are undermining the work of those trying to bring us together, our community and religious leaders, 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 are 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 our policing and mystic asians 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, we are focusing our efforts on supporting Law Enforcement partners with maintaining Public Safety in the communities we are all sworn to protect. We are making sure we are tightly latched up with our state and local Law Enforcement partners across the country by setting up 24hour command posts in all our 56 field offices. We have directed our 200 joint Terrorism Task forces to assist Law Enforcement with apprehending and charging violent agitators who are hijacking peaceful protests. On a national level, we are soliciting tips, leads, and Video Evidence of criminal activities through our national , threat operations center. And over the past few days, 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 that in every community, the fbi stands ready to assist wherever we can. The relationships we have built with our Law Enforcement and Community Partners are 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 left protection of civil rights to state and local governments. And it took the Mississippi Burning case and the Civil Rights Act for the federal government to end the fbi to get off the sidelines and to begin to fully protect civil rights for all people of color. Since then, we have been working hard to identify and prevent hate crimes, and to investigate abuses of power and authority. Our civil rights cases are among 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 and it is extraordinary. And do that is extraordinary. And in these turbulent times, we wont forget the bravery of our Law Enforcement members who have risked life and safety to protect the public and keep the peace. But the difficulty of that job does not diminish the role we play in society, which is to protect and serve all citizens no matter their race, creed, orientation, or station in life. When we lose sight of those solemn obligations to the citizens we serve, the protectors can quickly become the oppressors, particularly for communities of color. As Law Enforcement, we are bound by an oath to serve all members of our community with equal compassion, professionalism, dignity, and respect. The American People should expect nothing less from us. Thank you. Director 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 United States marshals service, and personally, 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 to many other federal properties. The u. S. Marshals service is assisting other agencies 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 bile persons, and this right 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 also worked tirelessly over the years to bring thousands and thousands of and today,o justice 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 who are 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 and partnering