Here's what you need to know about Operation Legend.
THREAD
THREAD
1/ Operation Legend is a federal, interagency force consisting of FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals, & Homeland Security.
Hundreds of these officers are being deployed in Chicago today.
Hundreds of these officers are being deployed in Chicago today.
2/ Over 200 Operation Legend agents were also already sent to Kansas City, MO, and 35 federal agents will be sent to Albuquerque, NM—with plans to add other cities.
kansascity.com/news/local/cri…
kansascity.com/news/local/cri…
3/ Barr claims it's a different kind of operation than Portland, saying this force is for "classic crime fighting."
In other words, he's establishing a broad umbrella (see: non-protest) to condition the public to think of them as "regular" police officers.
In other words, he's establishing a broad umbrella (see: non-protest) to condition the public to think of them as "regular" police officers.
4/ Trump said that the DOJ will use $61 million in grants to hire Operation Legend officers—on the very same day it was announced that unemployment relief was being downgraded to $400/month.
5/ Trump/Barr are putting forth the image that this is in coordination with local/state governments, but based on the statement from @MayorLucasKC of Kansas City...that's total, well, malarkey.
6/ “I have grave discomfort with the pain of my people in Kansas City being exploited for political purposes. We all recognize the tragedies that are going on ... I find it disgraceful the narrative that the president & others use to try to score political points.” —@MayorLucasKC
7/ Barr is using real people & crimes as props to fit a "law & order" narrative—including an FBI reward for tips about the killer of Jackie Vigil in Albuquerque, despite multiple local lawmakers speaking out against the use of federal officers in the city.
koat.com/article/presid…
koat.com/article/presid…
8/ Important context: Barr has a long history of backdooring federal agents into situations where they don't belong.
Barr in 2001: "We found these old cases that said the federal government could go in there. This was without declaring martial law."
justsecurity.org/71512/portland…
Barr in 2001: "We found these old cases that said the federal government could go in there. This was without declaring martial law."
justsecurity.org/71512/portland…
9/ Additional important context for Operation Legend: Barr has actually used DC and Portland as test sites for how the public—and how the rest of government—will respond (or not, as it were) to the use of unidentified federal officers.
politico.com/news/magazine/…
politico.com/news/magazine/…
10/ He says these cases are for different purposes—& perhaps at a granular level they are—but they all serve the larger goal of normalizing an initiative like Operation Legend.
He's deploying a secret federal army under his direct command that is accountable only to him & Trump.
He's deploying a secret federal army under his direct command that is accountable only to him & Trump.
11/ The whole point is that he does not want to have to play by the usual rules of engagement.
Things like, oh, explaining why you're being kidnapped or the grounds on which you're being arrested.
Things like, oh, explaining why you're being kidnapped or the grounds on which you're being arrested.
12/ Things like not harming sources of first aid in sites of conflict
13/ Things like busting up peaceful food offerings to protesters exerting their first amendment rights.
14/ Things like not assaulting folks who are not committing any visible crime.
15/ Even the first DHS Sec, Tom Ridge, commented on the improper use of federal agencies:
“The department was established to protect America from the ever-present threat of global terrorism. It was not established to be the president’s personal militia.”penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-s…
“The department was established to protect America from the ever-present threat of global terrorism. It was not established to be the president’s personal militia.”penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-s…
16/ Maybe you're someone who believes in law and order: you oppose looting & rioting. Fine—at some point after this, that's a discussion we can have.
17/ But for now, this force has been granted sweeping authority, with no accountability or checks. It's dangerous for *all* of us.
If they can make "proactive arrests," they don't need a warrant or probable cause. They can snatch you or invade your home for any reason.
If they can make "proactive arrests," they don't need a warrant or probable cause. They can snatch you or invade your home for any reason.
18/ Operation Legend is how they're trying to normalize the use of an extralegal federal force that you don't question. You are not meant to demand accountability. You will be silenced if you do—possibly preemptively.
19/ This at a time when president Trump is polling at historic lows, with the prospect of prosecution looming if he loses the election.
It's squarely in the fascist playbook.
Fascism doesn't require some formal declaration; it can happen through the erosion of democracy.
It's squarely in the fascist playbook.
Fascism doesn't require some formal declaration; it can happen through the erosion of democracy.
20/ Operation Legend is that erosion. It's happening in real time. It will only intensify as we get closer to the election. It very likely could be used as an intimidation tactic *during* the election.
Speak up loudly about it now because it might be your last chance.
Speak up loudly about it now because it might be your last chance.
PS/ See if you can *not* get chills looking at this photo.
PS2/ Forgot to give context for the "proactive arrest" bit above. See below:
PS3/ More opinion from another former DHS Secretary, Jeh Johnson, on the use of federal agencies/officers as Barr and Trump have been doing:
PS4/ Also of note from Johnson's @maddow interview: members of the DHS Federal Protection Service are contractors.
Which tells us something important: Operation Legend will use contractors. So all those new hires brought in with that $61M could be anyone.
Which tells us something important: Operation Legend will use contractors. So all those new hires brought in with that $61M could be anyone.
PS5/ @chicagosmayor is telling Trump not to come to the city. Trump says, "At some point we can void that if we have to—and we may have to because it's out of control—I assume she's saying that for political reasons, I think it's negative political reasons"
PS6/ If you think "Operation Legend" sounds a bit much (btw careful w mockery simply because it's named after a four-year-old boy who was murdered), get a load of 'Operation Diligent Valor'—the name of the force in Portland.
It's maximum cringe.
politico.com/news/2020/07/2…
It's maximum cringe.
politico.com/news/2020/07/2…
PS7/ Wondering what can be done about this? This article from @jbouie breaks down how the House can step in:
"The House must act and act now. In addition to holding hearings & investigations ... Democrats should condition final passage of its..." (1/3)
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
"The House must act and act now. In addition to holding hearings & investigations ... Democrats should condition final passage of its..." (1/3)
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
PS8/ "...Homeland Security appropriations bill on a complete halt to operations in Portland and other cities and the dissolution of the response force. Should Democrats find themselves in control of both legislative branches & the White House next year..."
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
PS9/ "...they should also use the opportunity to amend the relatively obscure Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which Trump has used to install loyalists in high-level positions without Senate confirmation."
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
nytimes.com/2020/07/21/opi…
PS10/ Read this whole thread from @johnastoehr and his "Editorial Board" Substack piece linked in the tweet before the one I'm quoting here.
PS11/ Please also read this thread from @BuddJenn (from February!) about what Border Patrol agents believe they are and what accountability they believe they do/do not have.
PS12/ Have thoughts about what we can do to stop this? I put a couple down, but please contribute more here:
PS13/ In VERY related news: the DOJ is trying to forbid journalists from documenting the actions of federal agents in PDX
If they manage to backdoor this into existence, it will set the precedent for other cities—& be a massive step toward totalitarianism
If they manage to backdoor this into existence, it will set the precedent for other cities—& be a massive step toward totalitarianism
PS14/ Here’s how Chicago has responded to news that the feds are coming. 🔥
