DOJ Felony Assault Charges Against Protesters Met With Acquittals, Dismissals

Why it matters locally: While the specific cases detailed are not in Louisiana, the outcomes of federal charges against protesters have implications for how federal law enforcement might approach similar situations in any state, including Louisiana, should large-scale protests occur.

Federal prosecutors pursued felony assault charges against individuals arrested during protests in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Washington, D.C., in 2020. An analysis by The Associated Press revealed that juries and judges frequently acquitted defendants or dismissed these charges. These cities experienced significant protests, and then-President Donald Trump deployed or sought to deploy the National Guard in each location. The Justice Department's efforts to secure convictions for felony assault against protesters encountered limited success. The AP's findings indicate a pattern where federal charges did not consistently result in guilty verdicts or sustained legal actions in these specific cases. Prosecutors brought these felony charges amid widespread demonstrations. The AP reviewed the outcomes of these cases across the four cities identified. The analysis focused on the legal dispositions of individuals facing federal felony assault charges stemming from these protest events.