Letter to the Hon. Monty Wilkinson, Acting Attorney General, Department of Justice - Rep. Watson Coleman Leads Letter to Acting Attorney General Calling for Consistency in Prosecution of January 6th Insurrectionists

Letter

Dear Acting Attorney General Wilkinson:
As we continue to reel from the attack on the Capitol and begin to see those responsible face the
accountability of our justice system, we have been disturbed to see many individuals treated with what can
only be described as tremendous White privilege. As we are sure you are aware, for decades Black and
brown Americans have been held indefinitely after the mere accusation of crimes like the theft of a
backpack -- yet those who engaged in insurrection at our nation's Capitol with clear intent to destroy and
do harm have been sent back to their homes, or cleared to travel. As the Department of Justice continues to
identify and charge the terrorists who participated in the January 6th attack, we urge you to weigh in on
each case to ensure that the severity of these individuals actions are considered in the context of bail and
release.
This country has for decades needed reforms to its bail system to ensure that people are held pending the
outcome of their trial only if they pose a public danger, not merely because they cannot pay. With that said,
many of those who have been and will be charged in the assault on our democracy that took place on
January 6th are the clearest possible version of a public threat, yet have been allowed to return to their
homes, or more incredible still, travel internationally.
High-profile examples include Ms. Jenny Louise Cudd, who was granted pretrial release after being charged
with entering a federal building without permission and engaging in disorderly conduct. Not only was she
released, but she has asked a federal judge for permission to leave the country to go on vacation this month.
Riley June Williams, who confiscated a laptop from Speaker Pelosi's office with intent to give the
information to Russian intelligence, was allowed to remain on home confinement with her mother. Finally,
there is Aaron Mostofsky, son of a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, who faces four charges, including felony
theft of government property, yet was granted bail and is now waiting with his family before the trial.
Each of the individuals listed above is white, and their treatment speaks volumes about the reasons so many
Black and brown Americans have lost faith in the justice system. There is reporting that Black individuals
arrested for participating in the attack have been denied bail, further illustrating these disparities. Justice
needs to be administered equally and fairly, and your department has the ability to bring that equality about.
Last summer, when millions of people across the nation protested for racial justice, harsh treatment by local
authorities and more punitive treatment by judges and courts were widely reported in comparison with what
has happened to those who attacked the Capitol. What we request is fair and full accountability for the
egregious acts that took place on January 6th.
We ask that as you move forward with these charges, that you consider consistent and appropriate requests
for bail and other pretrial processes. We thank you in advance for your consideration.