Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who has been critical of President Donald Trump and the events of Jan. 6, says the Biden administration’s Justice Department is going overboard on prosecuting people who were there.
Of the estimated 200,000 people who attended the rally, an estimated 2,000 people entered the capitol and most just “walked into open doors and hung around” according to Barr.
Barr said he did not want to downplay the individuals who were violent and destructive, which he called a “shameful episode” and whose actions deserve prosecution.
But for the vast majority, there was no crime committed, including relating to the actions of Trump, he contends, “I don’t think it was an insurrection.”
Barr said he rejects the claim that the former president engaged in an “insurrection.”
Barr went on to say that the actions of Democrats to keep Trump off the ballot “go too far.”
His comments come as a court made a controversial ruling this week that has been criticized by constitutional lawyers and attorneys for defendants.
A federal appeals court ruled on Friday, Jan. 5 that anyone who entered the capitol on Jan. 6 can be prosecuted even if they were “neither violent nor destructive.” The ruling could mean individuals in their teens to those in their 90s could see significant jail time.
The ruling was regarding the prosecution of Russell Alford who was convicted in 2022.
Extensive video and audio shows Alford entered the Capitol through an open door and was in the capitol for less than 13 minutes. He was silent and peacefully meandered through the building without engaging in any unlawful behavior–something even the prosecution agreed. But his conviction was for disorderly conduct, something his lawyers say did not match up with his actions.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit disagreed, upholding and siding with what many consider a draconian interpretation of the law by the Biden Justice Department.
–Metro Voice and wire services
