What the sources establish
AP tracked 167 arrests in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and Washington. Of 102 felony-assault cases, 41% were dismissed, 34% ended in misdemeanor pleas, 10 defendants pleaded guilty to felony assault, and none of the 12 cases that reached trial produced a felony-assault conviction. Three felony-assault trials remained pending for the fall. [1]
Former federal prosecutors and law professors quoted by AP said the results raised questions about rushed investigations and aggressive charging. AP also reports that a judge reviewing one Chicago grand-jury record admonished prosecutors for improper behavior before charges were dismissed. [1]
Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi had publicly said people who interfered with federal law enforcement would face severe consequences. AP did not allege that Bondi selected charges in the individual cases. [1]
The other side of the record
The Justice Department told AP that prioritizing assaults on federal officers was appropriate, that each case depended on its facts, and that prosecutors should downgrade or dismiss charges when mitigating evidence emerges. U.S. attorneys in Los Angeles said some cases were dropped after further investigation.
What this does not establish
AP’s data review is not a judicial finding that every prosecution was improper. Ten felony guilty pleas, other convictions and prison sentences remain part of the record, and three assault cases had not yet gone to trial. The report concerns Justice Department charging practices; it does not establish personal criminal or ethical liability for Trump or Bondi.
Key dates
Check the record yourself
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- Reporting and data review · exact publication time unavailablePublished: Sep 12, 2026Protester felony-assault case outcomes and Justice Department response ↗
Associated Press