The Justice Department is defending trying to get Congress ‘emergency powers’ to prosecute cases during the coronavirus pandemic.
DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec, explained its “necessary to ensure that federal courts would be able to administer fair and impartial justice during pandemic.”
Among the proposals, the suspension of the statute of limitations while the country is in a state of emergency and video teleconferencing for preliminary hearings.
Plus, priority virus testing for federal agents and trainees at Virginia’s Quantico base, which houses the FBI's training academy.
Kupec tweeted that the authority sought from Congress would terminate with the end of the coronavirus national emergency.
The proposals have been criticized by lawmakers, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Utah Senator Mike lee.
As it stands, courts are closing and grand juries are not meeting due to COVID-19.
This means prosecutors may not be able to indict criminals before a statute of limitations expires.
It also means criminals who have been arrested may be released because of time limits.
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