Are You Okay With Federal Agents Being Accused of Lying Under Oath About Protester Violence?

A recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers regarding their actions during protests in Chicago. The judge found that federal agents, including CBP chief Greg Bovino, allegedly lied under oath about the events, using bodycam footage to contradict their claims.

Key accusations highlighted by the ruling include:

• DHS claiming commercial artillery fireworks were used by rioters, when video evidence indicated DHS officers set off flash-bangs and used them to justify further force.
• Federal agents allegedly stealing a protester's bike and throwing it, contrary to claims that protesters threw a bike at agents.
• Claims that riot munitions were necessary for an unruly mob, when the scene was reportedly quiet before agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls.

Judge Ellis specifically called Greg Bovino's testimony not credible, noting evasiveness and outright lies when confronted with video evidence of agents' actions and their interactions with protesters and witnesses.

This ruling, though currently under appeal, establishes a judicial finding that federal agents may have misrepresented events to justify their use of force against protesters, potentially framing them as aggressors when they were exercising their First Amendment rights and were allegedly victims of overreach. The legal implications of these findings, even if the injunction is modified, are significant in holding federal agencies accountable for their conduct.