The car attack in Charlottesville that killed Heather Heyer and wounded many others has already been charged by the State of Virginia as a case of second degree murder. But the attack may also end up as a federal case, particularly since Attorney General Sessions announced a federal investigation into the matter last Monday.
“For both constitutional and practical reasons, law enforcement is first and foremost a state responsibility,” a new CRS brief explains. “Nevertheless, the protection of civil rights has been thought to be an important federal concern.”
“It’s too early to tell what, if any, prosecutable federal offenses the Justice Department’s investigation might discover. However, various civil rights and terrorist offenses may be implicated.” The CRS brief surveys potential federal crimes that might have been committed in the Charlottesville case, including domestic terrorism and civil rights violations.
“There is no constitutional impediment to both state and federal prosecution for the same misconduct, although prosecution in both forums occurs only infrequently.” See Charlottesville Car Crash Attack: Possibility of Federal Criminal Prosecution, CRS Legal Sidebar, August 15, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism, CRS Insight, August 14, 2017
For First Time, FinCEN Imposes Penalty on Foreign-Based Virtual Currency Exchange for Violations of Anti-Money Laundering Laws, CRS Legal Sidebar, August 17, 2017
Foreign Money and U.S. Elections, CRS Legal Sidebar, August 17, 2017
Medicare: Insolvency Projections, updated August 16, 2017
Inspector General Community Launches Oversight.gov to Increase Accessibility to Reports, CRS Insight, August 15, 2017
Trespassing: The Leading Cause of Rail-Related Fatalities, CRS Insight, August 15, 2017
EPA’s 2015 Ozone Air Quality Standards, updated August 15, 2017
The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks, updated August 15, 2017
The Debt Limit Since 2011, updated August 9, 2017
Productivity Growth Across the Economy, CRS Insight, August 8, 2017
Trump Administration Releases First Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, CRS Insight, August 7, 2017
U.S. Circuit and District Court Judges: Profile of Select Characteristics, updated August 1, 2017
Global Engagement Center: Background and Issues, CRS Insight, August 4, 2017
Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, updated August 10, 2017
Yemen: Cholera Outbreak, CRS Insight, August 2, 2017
China-India Border Tensions at Doka La, CRS Insight, August 9, 2017
Paris Agreement on Climate Change: U.S. Letter to United Nations, CRS Insight, August 8, 2017
The Open Skies Treaty: Issues in the Current Debate, CRS Insight, August 10, 2017
Navy Littoral Combat Ship/Frigate (LCS/FFGX) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 11, 2017
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 15, 2017
Navy Columbia Class (Ohio Replacement) Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 8, 2017
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 14, 2017
FAS commends the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for clearing a historic 75 pieces of legislation, including multiple crucial bills to confront the wildfire crisis.
The United States needs a strategic investment fund (SIF) to shepherd promising technologies in nationally vital sectors through the valley of death.
Standardizing support for Accessibility & Accommodations in federally funded research efforts would open opportunities for disabled scientists and their research programs.
The incoming administration must act to address bias in medical technology at the development, testing and regulation, and market-deployment and evaluation phases.