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c/thepoliceproblem · by octopus_ink@slrpnk.net · 354d

**Third** grand jury refuses to indict DC woman accused of assaulting agent during ICE arrest

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/for-third-time-grand-jury-refuses-to-indict-dc-woman-accused-of-assaulting-agent-during-ice-arrest-jeanine-pirro-sidney-reid-sandwich-guy/65-785e2e30-46cf-4e90-b81a-9e9c219c6750

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/35031597

A grand jury declined for a third time to indict a D.C. woman accused of assaulting an FBI agent during an inmate swap with ICE – a rare loss for federal prosecutors that could foreshadow further trouble if the case goes to trial.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office said in a filing Monday it would move ahead with charging Sidney Lori Reid with a misdemeanor for the alleged assault outside the D.C. Jail in July. A magistrate judge had given prosecutors until Monday afternoon to secure an indictment against Reid or see the felony version of the assault charge dismissed.

A grand jury declining to indict three times on the same case is a warning the evidence may not stand up at trial, according to attorney Christopher Macchiaroli, a partner at Silverman Thompson Slutkin White who previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the federal prosecutor’s office in D.C.

188 points · 11 comments · view on lemmy.world

11 Comments

apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world · 67 pts · 354d

The fact that three grand juries can't establish indictable offenses and the case is still going forward is yet another sign that fascism has already slit the throat of democracy.

octopus_ink@slrpnk.net · 51 pts · 354d (1 reply)

Helpfully added by @memfree@piefed.social

Reid was arrested in July for allegedly resisting attempts to restrain her after she refused to back away from ICE officers who were conducting arrests outside the D.C. Jail. In the process, they said, an FBI agent received scrapes to the back of her hand.

and:

Reid’s attorneys, assistant federal public defenders Tezira Abe and Eugene Ohm, say she was arrested by officers who didn’t want to be filmed. Video evidence presented during a preliminary hearing captured an ICE officer telling Reid during her arrest, “You should have just stayed home and minded your business.”

Lady is trying to film. Legal. An agent gets scrapes while trying to stop her. Lady is charged with "an enhanced felony version of an assault charge that requires inflicting bodily injury on a federal officer and carries up to eight years in prison."

bitjunkie@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 354d

You should have just stayed home and minded your business.

They should take their own advice.

grue@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 354d (3 replies)

How the fuck do they even get to send it to a grand jury more than once?

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 354d

Look, that's not the issue, the issue is how to find a fourth grand jury in the summer.

7355608@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 354d

As someone who works in customer service. It is my experience that when the customer (the DA here) asks a question that does not get the answer they want they will reword the question and ask again.

The trick is to tell them "no" in same way each time so they know that they aren't as clever as they think. Adding "Again" before answering the question the second or more times also helps.

Serinus@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 354d

I believe if they find more evidence they can present again. Probably a stretch for what "more evidence" they could create.

HeyJoe@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 354d (1 reply)

Despite the good news, I honestly believe they don't care whether she is found guilty or not. They already succeeded by making this women's life hell for as long as possible over nothing, and it's not even over yet.

Postimo@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 354d

I think there is value in it if it spreads as a reminder of juror nullification, and gives the idea that you will not be charged if you fight back against ice.

Sxan@piefed.zip · 19 pts · 354d

Where do I donate to her defense fund?

the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 354d

Fuck yeah!