During an interview with Mobile, AL radio’s FM Talk 106.5 Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks discussed the federal response to acts of vandalism to federal statues and monuments based on interactions he had with Trump administration officials, particularly Mark Meadows.
Brooks told Mobile, AL radio’s FM Talk 106.5 the feds were limited in what they could do on the local levels, explaining that much of the property damage resulting from Black Lives Matter riots around the country could be attributed to politics.
“On the federal level, we are going to be enforcing the law,” Brooks said. “But not all destruction of property, not all the riots involve violations of federal statutes. That’s where you get into municipal ordinances or state laws. That’s where you get into the politics of whether it is advantageous or disadvantageous for the mayors or the governors to push for enforcement of these laws. They’re counting heads. They’re afraid they’re going to lose votes if they enforce the law. That is why the rioting has gotten as bad as it has. And that’s what we’re looking at nationwide the more these socialist Democrats gain power.”
Brooks told of a conversation he had with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, formerly a U.S. congressman from North Carolina, which involved a tougher tack from the federal government when it came to the desecration of federal property.
“That is the position of the House Freedom Caucus, to which I am a member,” Brooks said. “Last night, I met with President Trump’s chief of staff for dinner, Mark Meadows. He and I were sitting next to each other. That certainly was a paramount item of discussion. In my judgment, you’re going to see sometime soon a significant number of arrests related to those who committed those criminal acts. And I hope they will be able to get convictions for the arrests that come from these investigations.”
Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order to protect monuments, memorials and statues amid the protest, rallies and riots.
The order calls on the attorney general to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any person or group that destroys or vandalizes a monument, memorial or statue. Federal law authorizes a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the “willful injury” of federal property.
The order also calls for maximum prosecution for anyone who incites violence and illegal activity, and it threatens state and local law enforcement agencies that fail to protect monuments with the loss of federal funding.
Trump announced earlier Friday on Twitter that he had signed the order and called it “strong.”
Earlier in the day, the president used Twitter to call for the arrest of protesters involved with the attempt to bring down the Jackson statue from Lafayette Park.
He retweeted an FBI wanted poster showing pictures of 15 protesters who are wanted for “vandalization of federal property.”
Trump wrote, “MANY people in custody, with many others being sought for Vandalization of Federal Property in Lafayette Park. 10 year prison sentences!”
