Since I wrote to you last week, John, MSNBC's Ari Melber
reports that Trump's Department of Justice is continuing to pursue their
unprecedented power-grab.

Trump wants to retain anyone anywhere for any reason during a crisis.

[ [link removed] ]Check out Ari Melber's report on MSNBC and sign the petition calling on
Congress to Stop the DOJ >>

[ [link removed] ][IMG]

We all may be stuck at home, but that doesn't mean we're helpless. We'll
be delivering your signatures (electronically) to Members of Congress this
week. Add your name now and make sure your voice is heard.

-Charles

----- for more info watch the video at the link or check out my original
message from last week below -----

John,

Rolling Stone and Politico report that Trump’s Department of Justice is
using the Coronavirus as an argument to ask Congress to approve
extraordinary powers to indefinitely detain people and suspend habeas
corpus during times of natural disaster, civil disobedience, or other
emergency situation.

This would be applicable to “any statutes or rules of procedure otherwise
affecting pre-arrest, post-arrest, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial
procedures in criminal and juvenile proceedings and all civil processes
and proceedings.”

You read that right: Even if you’ve only been arrested, Trump’s DOJ wants
the right for a judge to detain you indefinitely.

The Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers, Norman Reimer, said the request is "terrifying." He told
Politico, it "means you could be arrested and never brought before a judge
until they decide that the emergency or the civil disobedience is over. I
find it absolutely terrifying."

[ [link removed] ]Congress must protect the constitutionally-protected rights of all
Americans always and reject this dangerous demand by Trump’s DOJ
immediately. Sign the petition right now >>

[ [link removed] ]ADD YOUR NAME

At a time when people held in detention centers are at most risk, with
detainees in close contact and very little supplies of soap, sanitizer,
and protective equipment, this is not the time to be thinking about ways
to lock more people up, especially for an indefinite amount of time.

In fact, some states are even releasing prisoners early rather than hold
them in dangerous situations. Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith
released six inmates, on house arrest with electronic monitors, early from
custody in order to slow the spread of the virus after two other inmates
were exposed to COVID-19 and quarantined.

Los Angeles released more than 600 inmates last week, a jail in Ohio moved
to release hundreds of inmates over the weekend, and Alameda County
approved 314 people at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin for sentence modification
and early release. An additional 67 people were released by the court on
their own recognizance orders. "We continue to release when we can while
protecting public safety," Alameda County Sheriff said in a statement.

All of this is more proof that what Trump’s Department of Justice is
asking for -- to retain anyone anywhere for any reason during a crisis --
isn’t about saving lives. It’s about giving themselves more power.

[ [link removed] ]Demand Congress stand up for the rights of every American and reject
the DOJ’s request for extraordinary powers to indefinitely detain people
and suspend habeas corpus during times of natural disaster, civil
disobedience, or other emergency situation.

This is Trump’s Department of Justice. Congress, especially during this
crisis, must be very very careful about granting new powers to the
government.

But this decision is easy: Congress must stop Trump's DOJ.

Thank you for everything you’re doing in this crisis to keep you, your
family, and your community safe.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Chair
Democracy for America




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