He blames the Biden Administration for the indictment.
Dan Cox
Frederick, Md (KM) The attorney for the owner of the Machine Gun Nest in Frederick is ready if the federal government charges his client again. Dan Cox, who is also running for the House of Representatives from the 6th District, spoke about that recently on WFMD’s “Morning News Express.”
Last year, Robert Krop, who owns the Machine Gun Nest, was indicted by a federal grand jury, along with Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, on five counts of conspiracy and making false statements to illegally acquire machine guns. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Krop’s trial was scheduled to begin in October, but last week, US District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher dismissed the indictment, saying that the defendant’s right to a speedy trial were violated. “The Speedy Trial Act of 1974 mandates a trial within 70 days,” says Cox. “Our calculation was about 333 because it was last year.”
The indictment against Jenkins still stand. But Cox concluded. “Mr. Krop is a free man, and they don’t have a case, and the Sheriff, therefore, doesn’t have a case.”
He blamed the Biden Administration, naming Attorney General Merrick Garland, for the charges against Krop and Jenkins. :”This whole thing is because my client is leaning in the opposite direction of Biden. This is Biden lawfare attacking our community. And when {former} President Trump says ‘they’re not really after me. I’m just in the way’ that’s true,” he says.
Cox says the reason for the attack on Krop and Jenkins is due to the Sheriff’s participation in the federal 287g program which determines the immigration status of suspects arrested by deputies. “This is everything to do with the Biden Administration’s border policy attacking little, beautiful Frederick because why? Because we actually were using the 287g program with ICE {Immigration and Customs Enforcement} that they’ve tried to shut down. And that is crucial here,” Cox says.
Sheriff Jenkins has come under fire for participating in the 287g program. His critics say it’s an effort to deport all undocumented immigrants, even for minor offenses.
As part her decision, Judge Gallagher gave federal prosecutors three weeks to come up with a new indictment. If a new indictment is filed, Cox says he’s ready. “I believe we won,” he said. “If the government tries to recharge, this is another proof of malicious, willful, vindictive, horrific destruction of Constitutional liberty if they try to recharge my client. Now, I’ve got additional powers to come after them because you can’t do that kind of thing to people. The law is the law, and it applies to the government as well as to us.”
By Kevin McManus