The Department of Justice is gearing up for a major legal counteroffensive, having issued a warning to dozens of U.S. attorneys’ offices advising them to be prepared for criminal investigations following the “No Kings” protests that are slated to take place on Saturday, June 14, in over 1000 cities across the country.
For context, the DOJ is preparing for large-scale legal action in response to the upcoming “No Kings” protests, which have been described by the organizers as “a nationwide day of defiance” on President Trump’s birthday. The Department of Justice advised U.S. attorneys to be prepared to “respond accordingly.”
In a statement shared with Fox News on June 12, 2025, a DOJ spokesperson said that the Department “respects the right to peacefully protest & assemble to engage on important issues.” The spokesperson then clarified, “However, the Department and its 94 US Attorney Offices will not tolerate unlawful violence & destruction of property.”
In addition, according to coverage from Fox News, U.S. Attorneys have been advised to prepare for federal charges if the protests turn violent. However, No Kings organizers stated that a “core principle” of their movement is “a commitment to nonviolent action,” adding, “We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”
Moreover, the organizers of the nationwide protests described the basis of their movement on their website, saying of the Trump Administration, “They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”
However, in response to the planned protests, President Trump defended his administration to reporters on June 12, saying, “We’re not a king at all.” He added, “A king would say, ‘I’m not going to get this…he wouldn’t have to call up [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune and say, ‘Fellas, you’ve got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done. No, no, we’re not a king, we’re not a king at all.”
Furthermore, the DOJ’s statement came just days after two Los Angeles County men, including one illegal alien, were charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device after using Molotov cocktails as part of the riots in Los Angeles. In a press release issued on June 13, 2025, United States Attorney Bill Essayli weighed in on the case, saying, “When protesting crosses the line into violence, the penalties will be severe.”
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Continuing, U.S. Attorney Essayli clarified that “possessing a Molotov cocktail or another destructive device is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison.” He added, “Possessing a Molotov cocktail or another destructive device is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. The vile attacks, such as the ones alleged in these complaints, could have resulted in life-altering or life-ending injuries to police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and innocent bystanders.”
Watch coverage of the planned protests:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video