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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLegal experts reveal one reason Gov. Whitmer kidnap case is strong
The federal criminal case against six of 13 suspects accused of plotting to abduct and possibly harm Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer contains a legal nuance that former officials from the U.S. Department of Justice say make conviction more likely.
Barbara McQuade, who served the Eastern District of Michigan in Detroit as U.S. Attorney from 2010-17, told the Free Press that federal prosecutors have a tough time with "domestic terrorism" cases, unlike international terrorism, because there is no domestic terrorism statute.
But a kidnapping charge gives federal prosecutors a clear path.
"If it is a plot to engage in violence generally, it can be very difficult," McQuade said. "But I think one thing about this (Whitmer) case that indicates to me it is likely to be very strong is that they were able to charge under the kidnapping statute instead of having to charge something that feels a little vague, like seditious conspiracy, which is sometimes all youre left with in a domestic terrorism case."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/legal-experts-reveal-one-reason-gov-whitmer-kidnap-case-is-strong/ar-BB19Sb7l?li=BBnb7Kz
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,620 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Cha
(297,240 posts)crickets
(25,980 posts)Oh, I think Congress needs to get busy with that next year... along with the long list of other things, I know. But this seems an issue that should be addressed soon.
Hugin
(33,144 posts)Yet, they always seem to get an ad-hoc in the field conviction for those.
Couldn't they use that statute?
central scrutinizer
(11,648 posts)Too hard to prove conspiracy so those assholes walked.