Comer Launches Investigation into D.C. Activist Groups’ Efforts to Infiltrate Juries and Subvert Lawful Prosecutions

WASHINGTON-House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is investigating politicized jury nullification initiatives by left-wing activist groups in the District of Columbia. In a letter to Free DC Executive Director Keya Chatterjee and Harriet's Wildest Dreams Board Member and Former Co-Conductor Qiana Johnson, Chairman Comer raises concerns that they are training activists to conceal their biases during jury selection, infiltrate juries, and acquit criminals based on political agendas rather than the law and evidence. Chairman Comer is requesting all documents and communications related to their jury nullification training sessions, coordination with outside partners, and funding.

"Free DC, in coordination with Harriet's Wildest Dreams, has held jury nullification training sessions to instruct potential jurors in how to navigate juror vetting and subvert lawful prosecutions in the District of Columbia. Leaders at these public sessions brazenly declared radical intentions. At an August 12 training, Qiana Johnson, who serves on the Board of Harriet's Wildest Dreams and is a 'conductor of legal defense' for the organization, told attendees, '[y]ou have this superpower, and that superpower is you are able to nullify that goddamn jury,'" wrote Chairman Comer. "In conducting these trainings, your organization is blatantly facilitating the violation of the constitutional right to an impartial jury and undermining the rule of law in the District."

Free DC and Harriet's Wildest Dreams reportedly held training sessions to teach potential jurors how to influence the outcomes of criminal cases and acquit criminals. According to reports, these sessions instructed activists to falsely present themselves as unbiased and conceal their ties to prison abolitionist groups during jury selection. Free DC has also publicly touted its juror training efforts as a source of power to halt prosecutions. Free DC is fiscally sponsored by organizations financed by left-wing dark money groups that also support other entities conducting jury nullification workshops.

"It is clear that the position of Free DC and Harriet's Wildest Dreams is that potential jurors should not make decisions impartially based on applying the law as instructed to the facts presented before them in the case, but based on their subjective, personal beliefs and activist agendas. These shocking reports underscore the necessity of congressional oversight to protect against an assault targeting constitutional rights and processes. Jury nullification training courses undermine the rule of law, the safety of D.C.'s residents, and erode public trust in the justice system and our Constitution's guarantee of an impartial jury," concluded Chairman Comer.

Read the letters here:

• Free DC
• Harriet's Wildest Dreams