Trump Administration Memo Provides Legal Immunity for Military Attacks on Alleged Drug Smugglers
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6mo ago· 11 min readenNews
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Summary
The Trump administration's Justice Department produced a classified legal opinion to provide legal immunity for military personnel conducting lethal attacks on alleged drug smugglers in Latin American waters. The memo advances an unusual legal theory that justifies killings by claiming the target is drugs rather than people, aiming to shield service members from prosecution despite concerns from military and civilian lawyers about the legality of targeting civilian boats.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe Trump administration is promising legal cover for military personnel who carry out lethal attacks on the alleged drug smugglers in the waters surrounding Latin America.
Amid mounting questions from senior military and civilian lawyers about the legality of proposed strikes on civilian boats, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel this summer produced a classified opinion intended to shield service members up and down the chain of command from prosecution.
The legal theory advanced in the finding, two sources said, differs from so-called 'targeted killing' legal opinions that have been used to justify drone strikes against terrorists.
The memo promising legal immunity for those who kill alleged drug traffickers, the Trump administration floated an unusual legal theory.
In a memo promising legal immunity for those who kill alleged drug traffickers, the Trump administration floated an unusual legal theory.
