George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley commented on January 8, 2026, about a recent incident involving law enforcement and a vehicle, stating that the evidence increasingly supports the officer’s actions while criticizing political leaders for premature condemnations.
Turley addressed the case during a broadcast appearance, explaining the legal framework for such encounters.
“What you have here is a vehicle that is legally treated as a weapon. And these officers are trained, both federal and state, to treat a car as a weapon if it is speeding towards them, you have an individual who did not comply with orders to get out of the car, and, in fact, sped up towards the agent. So for all of that, we have to look at the remaining evidence. There’s still video. I’d like to see an investigation has to be completed. But as it stands now, this is a stronger and stronger case, supporting the officer.”
He stressed the need for a full investigation before conclusions are drawn, noting additional video evidence that remains to be reviewed.
Turley’s remarks focused on the training officers receive to respond to threats posed by vehicles in high-risk situations.
Turley also expressed concern over the immediate political responses from officials.
“What really concerns me is the hair trigger that we saw politically, that you really saw, I thought, reprehensible conduct by the mayor and the governor. You know, these officers put their lives on the line. The least you can do is allow the investigation to go forward. Instead, we saw even the mayor of New York declaring this officer to be a murderer, and it’s really a shocking thing to, I think, for those of us who believe that officers should be given some due process. I thought that was the mantra coming from many of these individuals.”
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The incident involved an individual who allegedly failed to comply with commands and accelerated toward an agent, prompting the officer’s response.
Turley highlighted that vehicles can be considered deadly weapons under the law when used aggressively against law enforcement.
The mayor’s statement labeling the officer a murderer came before the completion of any formal investigation, according to Turley.
Turley’s critique highlighted the risks officers face daily and the expectation of due process in such cases.
He noted that political figures quickly condemned the officer without waiting for all facts to emerge.
The professor called for restraint from leaders, arguing that officers deserve the same procedural protections often advocated in other contexts.
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