Additional Coverage:
- Report criticizes former AG Bill Barr for response to 2020 George Floyd D.C. protests (newsbreak.com)
The Department of Justice’s chief inspector, Michael Horowitz, released a report on Wednesday criticizing the handling of the law enforcement response by former Attorney General Bill Barr during the 2020 protests in Washington D.C. These protests, which at times became violent, were sparked by the murder of George Floyd.
The 168-page document details the events but clarifies that Barr did not directly orchestrate the controversial dispersal of protesters from Lafayette Park, which preceded former President Trump’s photo opportunity at St. John’s Church on June 1, 2020. Nonetheless, the report describes the overall response coordinated by Barr and other DOJ leaders as “chaotic and disorganized.”
The report raises concerns about the preparedness and deployment of law enforcement during the protests, criticizing the lack of proper equipment and training for the agents and elite tactical units activated by Barr. It notes that decisions were not effectively communicated to subordinates and collaborating non-DOJ agencies.
Barr is particularly criticized for urging rapid deployment of DOJ law enforcement personnel, without sufficiently ensuring they were adequately trained or equipped for the tasks at hand. These hurried deployments included Bureau of Prisons personnel who notably lacked identifiable law enforcement markings on their attire – a detail that raised substantial media and political critique. Despite the concerns this raised, the report found that the absence of typical law enforcement insignia was due to the Bureau’s usual non-public-facing roles rather than an intentional effort to conceal identity.
The FBI’s deployment strategies were also reviewed, highlighting serious planning deficiencies and inadequate guidance provided to personnel about their mission and legal powers during the protests, which included a fire near the White House and led to President Trump being briefly moved to a bunker.
The inspector general’s report emphasized that, while the civil unrest following George Floyd’s death presented unprecedented challenges, the priority should always be the safety of both personnel and the public. It suggests relying on established, carefully considered law enforcement practices, especially during crises requiring swift, impactful decision-making.