(WND News Center)—A team of activists is working in Washington, D.C., and “across the United States” to teach leftists how to embed themselves on juries and then destroy prosecutions of criminals brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
A report at the Free Beacon explains it reviewed training materials of Freedom Trainers, fiscally sponsored by the George Soros-backed Community Change group.
That group is working to make “jury nullification” a standard practice, the report said, “even if the defendant broke the law.”
It advises during jury selection to “never mention jury nullification” and “dress neutrally” offering only “brief answers.”
Promise to listen to “evidence.”
But once inside a jury room, “vote your conscience.”
“While we respect jurors’ role in the judicial process, the Department takes jury nullification and interference with official proceedings extremely seriously,” a Department of Justice spokeswoman told the Free Beacon. “Any group attempting to improperly influence juries who should serve as impartial arbiters of evidence should be held accountable.”
The report said Freedom Trainers did not respond to requests for comment but calls itself online a “loose network of trainers teaching collective noncooperation.”
Among its personalities are Daniel Hunter, the founder of D.C.-based liberal activist group Choose Democracy, and Keya Chatterjee, of Free DC and former executive director of the US Climate Action Network.
The report explained, “During one recent webinar, Hunter raised the viral example of a man shown on video assaulting a federal agent with a sandwich. He argued that there are ‘a lot of possible reasons’ those serving on a grand jury in the case could vote against an indictment. Jurors could say that the law the man broke is itself not just or constitutional. They could argue that the agent was not harmed. Or they could say that they were generally unconvinced by prosecutors’ arguments.”
The organization’s pamphlet, in fact, preaches jurors can vote not guilty for “any reason you believe is just,” even when the defendant “technically” committed a crime.
“We have a legal remedy to correct when the court system, when the Department of Justice, has gone astray and awry,” Hunter said in a webinar. “That is your right as a juror to stand up for what you believe to be right, to use your analysis, your conscience, your morals.”
And potential disruptors are warned, “You can legally nullify once on a jury, but if you say that’s your plan, you’ll likely be removed before the trial begins.”
And discussing nullification plans with other jurors could produce charges of misconduct or jury tampering, they are warned.
“If you simply vote ‘not guilty’ and don’t explain your reasoning, your vote stands – no one can force you to convict or overturn your decision,” they are advised.
The report noted, “Freedom Trainers implores activists not to target other jurors, lie, disclose jury deliberations, claim publicly that they nullified following a trial, or coordinate with a defendant.”
Carrie Severino, of the Judicial Crisis Network, said, “Dark-money networks are intent on attacking the judicial system at every level, with their latest scheme to sway juries and encourage citizens to nullify the law. It wasn’t enough for Soros and dark-money groups to back far-left prosecutors who released criminals and led to rising crime or to push judges who ignore the rule of law.”
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