Liberal members of Congress are resisting the expansion of national security powers in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that has raised questions about sharper penalties for the intruders.
“We already have laws on the books. Sorry, but you are just gonna have to learn to apply them equally,” Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar wrote in a Thursday tweet that included a letter from the Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights, which warned against the “unnecessary expansion of federal domestic terrorism statues.”
We already have laws on the books.
Sorry, but you are just gonna have to learn to apply them equally. https://t.co/jE78gtmFUj
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 21, 2021
The letter insisted the Justice Department “has over 50 terrorism-related statues” it can draw from to prosecute the pro-Trump demonstrators who clashed with law enforcement and eventually breached the Capitol, leading to five deaths. The group added that the creation of any new “domestic terrorism charge” would unfairly target “marginalized communities.”
Omar, a member of the ultra-liberal House wing dubbed the “the Squad,” was one of 10 lawmakers to sign a Tuesday letter to congressional leaders, demanding they halt any effort to enhance “national security and surveillance powers of the U.S. government.”
“While we are not necessarily opposed to reforms to address the law enforcement and intelligence communities’ inability or unwillingness to seriously confront domestic white nationalist violence, we firmly believe that the national security and surveillance powers of the U.S. government are already too broad, undefined, and unaccountable to the people,” the letter read. “To further degrade those rights and liberties in reaction to this attack would undermine our democracy at a time when we must join together to defend it with all our collective might. While many may find comfort in increased national security powers in the wake of this attack, we must emphasize that we have been here before and we have seen where that road leads.”
The lawmakers posited that the House Un-American Activities Committee, which they say targeted liberals during World War II, and the Patriot Act, which enhanced surveillance capability following the 9/11 attacks, are examples of poor policy that result in increased terrorism-related power. “Squad” members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib also signed the letter.
At least 25 domestic terrorism investigations have been opened in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. Authorities took particular concern with those in the group who carried zip-tie-like restraints as they investigate whether there was a plan to kidnap members of Congress.
