Staff Reports
The Justice Department marked the third anniversary of the January 6th Capitol incursion by announcing its continued efforts to prosecute more individuals involved. U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves stated during a news briefing that thousands of people had entered the Capitol grounds without authorization and are eligible for prosecution. This begs the question: if the Justice Department is so keen on prosecuting individuals who entered unauthorized areas, why isn’t it dedicating the same amount of effort to secure the southern border?
Since President Joe Biden took office, millions of people have entered the United States illegally through the southern border. In fact, the count exceeds 8 million, and that’s not even including the 1.7 million “gotaways” who slipped past authorities. It’s clear that the Biden administration should prioritize border security, rather than focusing disproportionately on rounding up January 6th protesters.
As Millions Cross Border Illegally, Biden DOJ Proclaims Thousands of Jan. 6 Protesters Could Be Prosecuted for Being Outside Capitol
Biden would do well to focus on that threat at the southern border rather than nonviolent J6 protesters. https://t.co/oI4rBgUBx4
— Randy DeSoto (@RandyDeSoto) January 8, 2024
The Border Patrol has apprehended hundreds of individuals on the terror watch list, which raises concerns about the potential number of terrorists who have gone undetected. During his briefing, Graves himself admitted that there were not enough law enforcement personnel to defend the Capitol and arrest the thousands of people who unlawfully entered the premises. Nevertheless, he stated that all those who were on the Capitol grounds could potentially be prosecuted.
It’s worth mentioning that not everyone who entered the Capitol engaged in violence or unlawful conduct. Similarly, during the riots in May 2020 following George Floyd’s death, only a fraction of those involved were prosecuted. The key difference between the two incidents was the level of security defending the respective locations. However, the Biden administration seems determined to prosecute as many January 6th protesters as possible, even those who only stood outside the Capitol.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr observed that the Justice Department “cast their net far too broadly” in prosecuting January 6th protesters. While there were individuals who genuinely committed violent acts, many others simply walked into open doors and hung around. It’s time for the Biden administration to shift its focus to securing the border and prioritize more pressing matters.
