In alarming expansion of power, The Department of Justice has granted the DEA temporary authority to conduct surveillance and "to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of the protests over George Floyd ", according to an internal memo obtained by BuzzFeed News.
The DEA is normally limited by statute to enforcing drug related federal crimes. However, Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer granted Tim Shea, acting head of the DEA and former top DOJ offical, approval to perform other law enforcement duties" that Attorney General William Barr may "deem appropriate," the memo shows.
The memo also authorizes DEA agents to share intelligence with local and state authorities, conduct searches and arrest protesters who have been alleged to violate federal law.
"In order for DEA to assist to the maximum extent possible in the federal law enforcement response to protests which devolve into violations of federal law, DEA requests that it be designated to enforce any federal crime committed as a result of protests over the death of George Floyd".
Tim Shea, Acting Head of The DEA
Three DEA sources indicated they were troubled by the memo and see it as an example of the Justice Department potentially abusing its power in an attempt to smear the protests and crack down on protected First Amendment activity.
Civil Rights groups were quick to express displeasure with the agency's newfound authority.
“Drug enforcement agents should not be conducting covert surveillance of protests and First Amendment protected speech. That kind of monitoring and information sharing may well constitute unwarranted investigation of people exercising their constitutional rights to seek justice. The executive branch continues to run headlong in the wrong direction.”
Hugh Handeyside, ACLU Senior Attorney
The protests, which spread across the US and world in the past week, were sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was suffocated under the knee of white policemen in Minneapolis on May 25th. According to CNN, a June 1st independent autopsy determined that Floyd's death was a homicide and the unarmed black man died from "asphyxiation from sustained pressure."
All four officers were charged on Monday in the death of Mr. Floyd with charges ranging from Second Degree Murder to aiding and abetting Second Degree Murder.
The Bluntness also reported this week on widespread looting in several cannabis dispensaries throughout the nation, which led to significant damage and theft.
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