Armed Militias Are Taking Trump’s Civil War Tweets Seriously
In New Lawfare Piece, ICAP’s Mary McCord Addresses the Most Dangerous Consequences of Trump’s Rhetoric
A recent tweet from President Trump referred to the potential for civil war upon his removal from office. ICAP’s Mary McCord highlights why this particular tweet is so dangerous:
But it is worth paying particular attention to this tweet — because among the people who read it were militia groups enthusiastic about exactly what Trump portended. And while no violence has yet resulted from the president’s tweet, it would be foolish to underestimate the power of Trump’s comments to call rogue militias to action, particularly if there is an impeachment and he continues to use this rhetoric to fan the flames.
and offers a range of solutions for how state and local government officials and law enforcement can tackle that threat:
State officials and law enforcement, however, do not have to wait for that condition to be fulfilled — or for the president to post new tweets that militias may interpret as calling them to arms — to tackle the potential threat posed by militias. Governors may issue cease and desist orders based on their state constitutions, law enforcement may initiate investigations based on federal and state criminal statutes, and the public may report instances of current law-breaking by militia members.
Read the full piece here.
