A Justice Department watchdog criticized Attorney General William P. Barr for a “chaotic and disorganized” response to the demonstrations following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. The report found that Barr did not order the forced removal of protesters from a park near the White House.
The investigation covers a significant moment during Donald J. Trump’s presidency when on June 1, 2020, Trump walked through Lafayette Park from the Rose Garden. This park had been forcefully cleared of protesters by federal law enforcement officers. The purpose of this walk was for a photo opportunity at a nearby church, where Trump posed with a Bible.
Video footage from that day captured Barr, known for his assertive management style, engaging with officials in the park just before Trump’s walk. According to Michael E. Horowitz, the Justice Department’s inspector general, Barr was not in the chain of command at the scene during this interaction.
The report clarified that the decision to clear the park of protesters, carried out by officers wielding batons and some on horseback, was directed by the Park Police and the Secret Service, not the Justice Department. A few Justice Department employees provided support but did not lead the operation.
Mr. Horowitz stated in the 168-page report that included over 100 interviews, “We found that the decision to clear the area of protesters on the evening of June 1 was made by the U.S.P.P. and U.S.S.S. unified command at Lafayette Park and not by Barr, and that Barr did not impact the timing of the clearing operation.”
