Krasner Wants To Prosecute Federal Agents Who Break PA Laws

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has joined up with a slew of reformed prosecutors around the country to create a coalition that would prosecute federal law enforcement officers who violate state laws.

The national coalition, which includes locally-elected top prosecutors, announced the formation of the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach, or FAFO. "FAFO" is a common acronym for the slang phrase "f*** around and find out."

Krasner is joined by reformed prosecutors such as Hennepin County, Minnesota Attorney Mary Moriarty of Minneapolis; Travis County, Texas District Attorney Jose Garza; Fairfax County, Virginia Attorney Steve Descano; Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, Commonwealth of Virginia's Attorney for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church; Stephanie Morales, Commonwealth of Virginia's Attorney for Portsmouth; Ramin Fatehi, Commonwealth of Virginia's Attorney for Norfolk; Dallas, Texas District Attorney John Creuzot; and Pima County, Arizona Attorney Laura Conover.

These prosecutors will share strategies and best practices among prosecutors, provide regular public updates on efforts to rein in unlawful federal conduct and educate the public on what paths are legally available, and coordinate on accountability efforts across jurisdictions.

The coalition hopes to hold federal officials accountable when they exceed their lawful authority, especially in states around the country where federal agents are being surged. The formation comes amid growing concerns about warrantless entries, unlawful detentions, and coercive enforcement tactics by federal agents, and it’s intended to ensure that constitutional limits on federal power are actively enforced through lawful institutions.

"No agency or officer is above the law," Krasner said. "When federal agents exceed their lawful authority, local prosecutors have both the power and the duty to act. The project exists to ensure that accountability is real, coordinated, and enforced through lawful institutions."

"Federal agents are sending the message that they can take over a neighborhood whenever they want," Dehghan-Tafti said, Commonwealth of Virginia's Attorney for Arlington County and City of Falls Church. "We're here to say that it doesn't work that way."

Coalition members plan to convene in early February to share strategies for pushing back against the lawless actions of federal forces in states and cities around the country.