Just when you think our government can’t sink any further into tyrannical depravity, they dig themselves deeper into that particular abyss. In this case, the Justice Department is trying to further punish defendants who were allegedly involved in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by preventing them from raising funds for their defense. Even a cursory glance at the details of this story shows that the DOJ is acting in a politically-motivated manner to target folks on the right. Regardless of what one believes about the actions of those who participated in the riot and protest at the Capitol building that day, the notion that federal law enforcement would go to these lengths to make a political statement should be terrifying to anyone who values liberty.
For those who are not familiar with this development, RedState’s Brittany Sheehan reported:
A recent review of court records reveals an alarming trend at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning its treatment of Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants. Federal prosecutors have deployed a tactic of seeking to impose fines on defendants, in addition to their prison sentences with the alleged goal of preventing them from financially benefiting from their participation in the 2021 events in DC, especially in cases where the accused has received a court-appointed public defender. Attorneys for the defendants see the DOJ’s fine requests as impairing rights to legal representation.
As an example, Sheehan notes the case of Daniel Goodwyn:
Shortly after pleading guilty to his involvement in the events at the U.S. Capitol, Daniel Goodwyn, a resident of Texas, made an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s former show on Fox News. During the interview, he told audiences that supporters could donate money to him and fellow defendants, who were referred to as “political prisoners” on the site. Now, the DOJ is seeking to recover more than $25,000 that Goodwyn raised through his fundraising efforts.
Goodwyn’s sentencing is scheduled for later this month. Defense attorney Carolyn Stewart described the DOJ’s prosecutors as “demanding blood from a stone” for seeking the fine.
The Justice Department’s actions have raised reasonable questions about its motives and whether it is trying to make examples out of the defendants.
In the American justice system, every individual, regardless of their alleged crime, is entitled to a viable defense. By preventing defendants from raising funds for their legal defense, the DOJ is undermining the principles of fairness and due process. Americans who believe in the defendant’s right to a fair trial and wish to support them financially should have the freedom to do so. It is supposed to be a fundamental aspect of justice that individuals are allowed to gather the resources necessary to mount a robust defense.
The DOJ’s attempt to seize the funds raised by defendants for their legal defense amounts to an act of government overreach. By effectively stealing the defendants’ money, the government is hindering the defendants’ ability to secure competent legal representation. This action not only undermines the defendants’ constitutional rights but also sets a dangerous precedent for future cases. If the government can arbitrarily steal donations meant for a legal defense, it further erodes the trust in the justice system and further marginalizes individuals who are already facing serious charges. The focus should be justice, not politics.
It is also worth noting that during the George Floyd protests in 2020, individuals involved in the riots were allowed to solicit donations to bail them out and help with their legal expenses without interference from the government. This contrasting treatment of defendants from different sides of the aisle also raises concerns about the DOJ’s actions being politically motivated rather than driven by a genuine pursuit of justice.
By selectively targeting the defendants from the January 6 Capitol riot and attempting to steal their funds while turning a blind eye to similar situations in the past, the DOJ’s actions appear to be inconsistent and raise suspicions about their true motives. This fiasco is yet another example of how deep the corruption has grown in the federal government.
