Anti-Trump Inauguration protesters acquitted on all counts

[turbinetree]

None of the six men and women facing felony charges tied to an anti-Trump Inauguration Day protest committed a crime, jurors decided Thursday.

The six defendants had faced seven charges each. The jury returned 42 separate not-guilty verdicts.

The charges — conspiracy to riot, engaging in a riot, and five counts of criminal property destruction — came despite the government’s acknowledgement that it has not evidence any of these half-dozen people engaged in violent personal action that day. It was in effect a legal argument they were as guilty as those who had actually smashed a window, because they chose to show up in black and stay with the group as it moved through the city.

The verdict resolves only the first handful of cases in the sweeping felony prosecutions of black-clad marchers rounded up in downtown Washington, D.C., last January. Hundreds more face similar charges.

https://thinkprogress.org/anti-trump-inauguration-protesters-acquitted-on-all-counts-in-major-first-amendment-trial-bcbac5367937/

[SummerSnow]

1. He will not let this go. He'll have Jeff 'elf' Sessions on it

[gademocrat7]

2. Good.

[procon]

3. Do they get back all the legals costs for this vindictive government assault

on their free speech rights? Are they going to be compensated for their losses and the damages done to their reputation for being branded as terrorists?

[narnian60]

6. My question, also.

[WhiteTara]

4. Woo F*ing Hoo!

[hlthe2b]

5. Damn, I was hoping they'd poll the jurors (and that it was unanimous)... Maybe someone will

(press) soon if a juror comes forward.

[Mr.Bill]

8. A not guilty verdict,

like a guilty verdict, requires a unanimous verdict. Otherwise it's a hung jury.

[hlthe2b]

9. right.. forgot this was Federal Court. Kudos, jurors

[Demsrule86]

20. That is true in any court...only civil court does it differently.

[hlthe2b]

21. Most but not all...

State Court Jury Verdicts: Unanimity Not Always Required
http://litigation.findlaw.com/legal-system/must-all-jury-verdicts-be-unanimous.html

In state courts, whether a jury needs to be unanimous depends on the state and the type of trial. For criminal trials, nearly every state requires the jury to produce a unanimous verdict.

For civil trials, almost one-third of states only require a majority for a verdict. Some states require a majority if the money at issue in the trial is below a certain amount, and a unanimous verdict all other times.

[watoos]

7. This was a super important decision

Praise the Lord and chalk one up for the 1st Amendment.

[LiberalLovinLug]

16. Not really

They'll do it again. It's a fast efficient way to remove a whole protest they don't like. Then, just like this time it will be taken to court and the protesters will be exhonorated and sent home. Damage done. Repeat and rinse.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. ...

[Gothmog]

11. This case should never have gone to trial

This was bogus witch hunt on par with trying the lady who laughed at Sessions. Trump hates the First Amendment

[bucolic_frolic]

12. How does the government bring a case without evidence?

[IronLionZion]

13. Someone did something bad so you shall be punished for being nearby

It was such a fascist way to do it. Just round up everyone in the area as guilty by proximity.

So glad I worked from home that day. My office is right by there.

[kaotikross]

14. Boy will they ever..

Boy will they ever cry in 2020, because now that they've set the precedent, I'd have every idiot with a rebel flag and a lynched effigy of whomever we elect in 2020 arrested and hauled off to Gitmo to await trial. I'd make sure they knew why, too. If I were the POTUS at that point:

"Well, as you can see, the Conser-Aryan 8 have been detained. Now let me be clear, personally, I wouldn't have done this. My skin isn't that thin. I'm in favor of having rights, like the right to protest..however..we, the Democrats, want our opposition to understand: this is a lil' lesson for ya. For arresting, jailing, and attempting to prosecute people peacefully protesting Trump. You wanna act like babies? We can do it too. (Turns to baliff on National TV) "Take em out to Gitmo, Larry." (Prisoners are shuffled off in Neon Green jumpsuits, chained chain gang style, looking fearful and horrified).
"That's it. We aren't going do this over and over, or jail hundreds of people, because we understand the Constitution- however, if the GOP ever gets power and pulls this sort of stunt again, woe be it to you all when the ball swings the other way, because there won't be any examples made next time."
(Turns without taking any questions, walks from room.)

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. In a perfect world...I watched what was done to OWS all across this country.

It was disgusting.

[shenmue]

15. Whew

[mountain grammy]

17. Good..thanks to the jury.

Six acquitted, more to go. Hopefully the govt will give up on this bullshit.

[barbtries]

18. let's hear it for

the First Amendment!

i feel happy enough to cry. the police and the prosecutors brought this case but the people did not buy.

[flotsam]

19. Aclu should slap a lawsuit on DOJ

for malicious prosecution and threaten a class action if pending charges aren't dropped.

[BigmanPigman]

22. Chris Hayes is covering it now.

There was no evidence directly linking them to fires, etc. but because some only attended the protest they were considered guilty of a crime by the DOJ and it proceeded. No tRump, no KKK, no facist USA! RESIST!

[marble falls]

23. Another Trump year one accomplishment! Well done AG Keebler Sessions!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. And the Dotard loses another.

[Gothmog]

26. This case should have never been taken to trial

[Gothmog]

27. Charges against most defendants are being dropped

Link to tweet