Pres. Trump tells 'weak' governors to 'dominate' streets amid protests

BY BRETT SAMUELS, REID WILSON AND MORGAN CHALFANT -

During a phone call Monday after a night of violent demonstrations in cities across the U.S., President Trump pressed the nation’s governors to crack down on protesters according to multiple sources familiar with the call.

An unnamed source familiar with the call said that Trump told governors to “dominate” and “take back your streets.” Trump was sharply critical of local leaders on the call, castigating them as being “weak” in response to the demonstrations, according to another source.

Governors were told the president held the call as protests persisted nationwide in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for roughly eight minutes. The officer who pinned Floyd to the ground with his knee was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter last week.

One source briefed on the call. “This call was insane,” said “They just went off on governors."

A.G. William Barr said he wanted protesters charged with federal crimes, according to the source. Barr has in recent days emphasized that it is a crime to cross state lines to engage in violence, and the administration as a whole has fixated on Antifa, a loose movement of anti-fascists.

More here: THEHILL.COM


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