Judge Howell ruled that defendants could not:

• argue that their First Amendment political rights were violated;

• argue the Trump administration violated the Geneva Convention by failing to protect the embassy and lawful ambassador;

• argue that Juan Gaudio is not president of Venezuela;

• argue that the Embassy Protectors were prepared to leave the embassy voluntarily once a protecting power agreement was reached between the US and Venezuela.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Green Party expresses relief and gratitude for the jurors who held out and refused to level a guilty verdict in the trial of the Embassy Protectors’ Collective. The federal district court trial began on February 11, and resulted three days later in a hung jury and mistrial. The court will reconvene on February 28 (Update: negotiations are ongoing. Next hearing scheduled for March 6), when the prosecution will state how it wishes to proceed. The Embassy Protectors could have faced up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine each.

Green Party of the United States
www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
February 14, 2020

Contacts:
Michael O’Neil, Communications Manager, [email protected], 202-804-2758
Holly Hart, Co-chair, Media Committee | [email protected] | 202-804-2758
Craig Seeman, Co-chair, Media Committee | [email protected] | 202-804-2758

The four individuals were arrested in May of 2019 at the Venezualen Embassy in Washington, D.C., where they were attempting to protect an embassy takeover by an appointee of coup leader Juan Guaido. Included among the four are Green Party of the United States National Co-Chair Margaret Flowers, and Kevin Zeese, 2006 Green candidate for U.S. Senate from Maryland.

At the beginning of the trial, Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell issued a ruling placing a number of restrictions on what the defendants would be allowed to tell the jury. They could not argue that their First Amendment political rights were violated; that Juan Guaido is not, in fact, president of Venezuela; nor that the Protectors were prepared to leave the embassy voluntarily once a protecting power agreement was reached between the US and Venezuela.

The Embassy Protectors decided not to present a defense because, in their view, the Trump administration did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After the four defense lawyers gave closing statements and the prosecution gave its rebuttal, the jury met for four hours and resumed deliberations the next morning.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party Platform: Foreign Policy

Defend Embassy Protectors
https://defendembassyprotectors.org/home/

Embassy Protectors WIll Not Be Able to Tell Jury Guaido Is Not President, or Mention International Law Baraka, Ajamu and Bahman Azad. Feb 6, 2020
www.defendembassyprotectors.org

Greens Oppose US support in attempted Venezuelan coup, Apr. 20, 2019
https://www.gp.org/green_party_opposes_attempted_venezuelan_coup

Venezuelan Embassy Protectors Defense Committee calls on Trump Administration to drop all charges against defenders
https://www.gp.org/drop_all_charges_against_defenders

Drop all charges against the Venezuelan Embassy protectors!
https://www.gp.org/drop_all_charges

Police invade Venezuelan embassy, arrest Protectors
https://www.gp.org/may_16_2019

New Jersey residents to deliver Embassy Protection letter to Senators Booker and Menendez
https://www.gp.org/booker_and_menendez

Activists protect DC Venezuelan embassy from US-supported coup
https://www.gp.org/activists_protect_dc_venezuelan_embassy

Green Party of the United States
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