Jury Refuses To Indict Chicago ICE Protesters In Latest Revolt Against Trump Overreach

Grand jury Tuesday night rejected indict two Chicago-area protesters accused of assaulting law enforcement, the latest in a shocking string of failures by the Trump Justice Department.

Indictments before grand juries are usually almost automatic; Only prosecutors can present evidence, and the bar for bringing charges is much lower than for proving their guilt. But the Trump administration, seeking to crack down on protesters resisting its brutality, has now been rebuffed by grand juries in Illinois, Washington and California.

The official ICE account was shouting online about the arrests of protesters in the Chicago area. promising that they will be “held accountable” and that “we cannot be stopped.”

In perhaps the most famous of these jury revolts, a D.C. jury refused to indict Sean Dunn—the former Justice Department official who threw a sandwich at an officer—in August, forcing prosecutors to charge him with a misdemeanor instead.

It's a stunning rebuke, a reflection of the thin gruel that prosecutors dish out when they try to throw the book at protesters for minor infractions – and perhaps a protest against the state violence perpetrated in these cities more generally.

— Kate Riga

A completely normal president threatens his political opponents with prison

A short and sweet social truth from our commander in chief today: “The mayor of Chicago should be in jail for failing to protect ice officers! Governor Pritzker too!”

“I will not back down,” responded Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D). “Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What's left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?”

“This is not the first time Trump has tried to unjustly arrest a black person,” added Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D). “I'm not going anywhere.”

Both the city and state have filed suit challenging Trump's attempt to deploy the National Guard. A federal judge declined to immediately block the rollout earlier this week and will hold a hearing on the case on Thursday. Meanwhile, reports indicate that troops arrived in Chicago, the city excited by escalating state violence.

— Kate Riga

'Inquiring minds want to know' why Grijalva was not sworn in

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) won a special election to replace her late father two weeks ago. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Los Angeles) has yet to officially swear her into the House.

Grijalva is expected to be the 218th and final signature on the dismissal petition that will lead to a vote on whether to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats say Johnson is delaying his swearing-in because he wants to avoid a floor vote.

Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) confronted Johnson outside his office on Wednesday.

During a heated exchange, Gallego accused Johnson of wanting to “cover up the pedophiles on Epstein’s list.” Johnson responded by saying it had “nothing to do” with Epstein.

“This is an excuse for her not to agree to this,” Gallego said.

“This is absurd,” Johnson responded, adding, “It’s a publicity stunt.”

House GOP leadership is insisting Grijalva will be sworn in when the House resumes session. But Johnson canceled previously scheduled votes over the past two weeks. The Speaker also previously administered the oath of office to members during pro forma sessions of the House of Representatives, which they attended on Wednesday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also weighed in on the issue.

“Why the delay, Mike?” Jeffries asked during his press conference Wednesday.

“Does this have anything to do with the ongoing Republican efforts to hide the Epstein files from the American people,” he continued. “Inquiring minds want to know.”

— Emine Yucel

We will never stop talking about James Comey

Former FBI Director James Comey, apparently a fixture in our domestic politics, pleaded not guilty in federal court today.

The case against him is so weak that the Trump administration was forced to assign a low-experience loyalist to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia to handle the case.

Comey's lawyer said he would seek dismissal of the lawsuit as a “vindictive” and “selective” prosecution. Time (The New York Times also wants its readers to know that Comey “stood to his full 6-foot-8 height to make his request”—what other height he could have stood remains unclear).

— Kate Riga

In case you missed it

New products from TPM: A short list of federal data the Trump administration falsified or destroyed.

Morning reminder: Key Witness Undermines Trump DOJ Witch Hunt Against Jim Comey

Dispatch of the Supreme Court: An election denier is trying to make it easier for candidates to challenge voting rules.

Return channel: Shutdown, zombie politics and how Trump turned out to be not omnipotent

The most read story of yesterday

Lindsay Halligan will have to overturn the decision of career prosecutors to charge Letitia James.

What we read

Trump's Labor Department Says His Immigration Raids Are Causing a Food Crisis — American Avenue

Trump administration officials are seriously discussing invoking the Insurrection Act, sources say – NBC News

Trump wants to reconsider drug sales. The company associated with his son will bring benefits. — Wall Street Journal

Leave a Comment