President Trump tweeted on Friday an FBI search poster depicting 15 unidentified suspects wanted in connection with the attempt to tear down a statue of Andrew Jackson in the capital, along with a stern warning.
“MANY people in custody, and many others, are being wanted for federally owned vandalism in Lafayette Park. 10 years in prison! the commander in chief tweeted.
The poster shows a mix of men and women, some wearing masks and some not.
“The FBI’s Washington Field Office Violent Crime Task Force, in conjunction with the United States Park Police, is interested in identifying several individuals responsible for destroying federal property in Lafayette Square,” the poster says. , referring to the statue, which is a stone’s throw from the White House.
The feds ask anyone with information to contact the task force or the local FBI office.
Trump also intervened Monday night, threatening protesters with prison terms for smashing statues.
“Numerous people arrested in DC for the shameful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior disfigurement of the Church of St. John across the street,” he tweeted.
“10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!”
Attorney General William Barr said Thursday that there were at least 500 active investigations by the Joint Counter-Terrorism Task Force into the violent protests that erupted in American cities over the murder of George Floyd.
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