(USA Features) A group of Republican lawmakers led by freshmen Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado are demanding that the Biden administration explain the alleged unequal treatment of Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters, many of whom have never spent a night in jail, and those who have been incarcerated for months following the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
In a letter, Boebert and 10 other House Republicans asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to address “the apparent inconsistent application of the law with respect to rioters across the country,” according to the Washington Times.
“The foundation of our criminal justice system requires that all defendants are treated equally before the law, but the Biden regime is not living up to this solemn obligation,” said Boebert, in a statement.
The lawmakers say that prosecutors in Oregon have signed off on at least 12 “deferred resolution agreements in federal felony cases” resulting from clashes during last year’s protests in Portland, while some rioters from Jan. 6 are being held in solitary confinement.
“Reports are circulating that the Biden regime has held January 6th rioters in solitary confinement, while at the same time, they are letting BLM rioters that attacked federal buildings off with just a few hours of community service,” Boebert said.
“This is not an equal standard of justice. I condemn all forms of political violence, and all political violence must be prosecuted fairly,” she added.
In June, four Senate Republicans led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas sought information from Garland on “the limited prosecutions and minimal penalties given to rioters arrested during the spring and summer of 2020,” according to the Times, which quoted their letter.
“During the 2020 protests, one federal officer, David Patrick Underwood, was shot and killed and more than 700 federal and local officers were injured, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said there were 81 firearms burglaries; the loss of an estimated 1,116 firearms; 876 reported arsons; 76 explosive incidents, and 46 ATF arrests, the [Boebert] letter said,” the Times reported.
Five people died around the time of the Jan. 6 protest, but none at the hands of the demonstrators.
“Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by Capitol Police; three protesters died of accidental or natural causes; and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick suffered two strokes and died the next day,” the Times said.
“DOJ’s apparent unwillingness to punish individuals who committed crimes during the spring and summer 2020 protests stands in stark contrast to the treatment of the individuals charged in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.,” said Tuesday’s letter from Boebert and the 10 other House members.
“Whether it is a mob breaking laws in D.C. or a mob in Portland or Minneapolis, the standard of justice should be the same in America,” they added.
Reps. Andy Biggs, Andrew Clyde, Jeff Duncan, Bob Good, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Louie Gohmert, Jody Hice, Thomas Massie, Ralph Norman and W. Gregory Steube also signed onto Boebert’s letter.