GOP lawmakers push bill to make the distribution of fentanyl that causes someone's death punishable as felony murder



In a bid to crackdown on the distribution of the deadly drug fentanyl, multiple GOP lawmakers are backing a bill that would allow the distribution of fentanyl that results in someone's death to be punishable as a felony murder charge.

Fentanyl is a strong synthetic opioid akin to morphine but significantly more potent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally," the NIDA notes.

"Fentanyl is killing Americans at a record high. This deadly drug is widespread throughout our country and has left no community untouched. This bill would make drug dealers pay the price for selling deadly fentanyl," GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said, according to his press release about the measure.

More than a dozen other Republican senators are backing the proposal, according to the release, which lists Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Rick Scott of Florida, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Mike Braun of Indiana, Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Steve Daines Montana, and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas introduced the companion bill in the House chamber, according to Rubio's press release.

A felony murder conviction entails a life sentence or even the death penalty, according to a Cassidy press release. "Felony murder is equivalent to first-degree, premediated murder and requires a minimum of life and is also eligible for capital punishment if convicted," the release states.

The text of the bill includes language that states, "Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree by distributing fentanyl shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for life."

"Criminals poisoning Americans with fentanyl should be treated the same as someone pulling the trigger of a gun," Cassidy said, according to the press releases. "If drug dealers and cartels push this deadly substance, they will face justice."

Juan Williams says girls charged with felony murder in death of Uber Eats driver were just looking for a 'joyride'



Fox News host Juan Williams offered a different perspective Monday concerning the two teenagers whom police have charged with felony murder in the death of an Uber Eats driver: They were just out looking for a "joyride."

What is the background?

Mohammad Anwar moved to the United States from Pakistan in 2014 in search of a better life for his family. Anwar's life came to an abrupt and violent end last Tuesday when two teenage girls — ages 13 and 15 — allegedly attempted to carjack him while he was making deliveries as an Uber Eats driver in Washington, D.C.

Video of the incident that went viral on social media showed Anwar begging witnesses for help when his car suddenly sped away while he was hanging outside. Just seconds later, the car crashed into parked cars and rested on its side. Anwar was thrown from the vehicle during the incident, and he later died of his injuries.

Video of the shocking incident showed that nearby National Guard soldiers and other witnesses failed to render aid to Anwar as his mangled body twitched on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, one of the teenage girls can be heard saying, "Please, my phone is in there. My phone is in there."

Police charged the perpetrators — who they said also assaulted Anwar with a stun gun — with felony murder, an enhanced charge because Anwar's death occurred while the suspects were allegedly in the process of committing a serious felony.

What did Williams say?

During a panel discussion on Fox News' "The Five," Williams seemingly downplayed the seriousness of the crime.

Williams' remarks came in response to co-host Jesse Waters, who asked why the story has not received more coverage.

"I can tell you— it's not that I would say it's top of the front page or top of mind for everybody in Washington, but people are talking about it," Williams responded.

"I think, in part, what it is, is you've got— it's tragic. I mean, you've got these teenage girls. I mean, they're little kids. They're not gangsters. They're not hardened criminals. I don't think they intended to kill anybody. They were looking for having a joyride, and it just went way wrong, way out of control, and ended up in a gross tragedy," Williams said. "I mean, this is unbelievable. Their lives are ruined, and that man is dead."

Waters shot back that "usually you don't bring a stun gun to a joyride."

Williams responded, "I mean, it's like, you know, kids finding guns in their parents' house. I don't know what to say, Jesse. It's awful. It's a terrible situation."

Fox News' Juan Williams on the two teenage girls charged in the murder of Uber Eats driver Muhammad Anwar:"I don’… https://t.co/0wwZjKw5v1
— Daily Caller (@Daily Caller)1617056249.0

Williams also defended Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who was criticized over the weekend for tweeting carjacking prevention tips.

"With regard to the mayor's tweet, again, look, I think that what we have seen in recent months is an increase in carjackings, car thefts, in this area, and so for her to say 'Be cautious,' I don't think that was the wrong note," Williams said. "I think it's good for us all to be cautious as we see a rise in this kind of crime."

Swift backlash hits CNN after outlet says murdered Uber Eats driver died in 'accident'



CNN ignited a firestorm of backlash over the weekend after characterizing what police called "felony murder" as a mere accident.

What is the background?

Two teenager girls — ages 13 and 15 — were charged with felony murder after allegedly carjacking Mohammad Anwar in Washington, D.C., last Tuesday.

Police say the teenagers attacked Anwar with a stun gun during the carjacking. The car later crashed, and Anwar died from injuries after being thrown from the vehicle. Anwar was a Pakistani immigrant who moved to America in 2014 to build a better life for his family.

The enhanced murder charges against the teenagers stem from a legal doctrine that "allows a killing that occurs in the course of a dangerous felony, even an accidental death, to be charged against the felon as first-degree murder," according to Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary.

Video of the shocking incident later circulated on social media, showing the alleged carjacking in progress and the car speed away with Anwar hanging outside. The car can be heard crashing as the videographer races toward the scene. Nearby National Guardsmen pull the teenage girls from the wrecked car, which rested on its side, as Anwar's mangled body twitched on the nearby ground. The video showed witnesses failed to provide Anwar with aid.

One of the teenage girls can be heard saying, "Please, my phone is in there. My phone is in there."

What did CNN say?

The news outlet posted on Twitter Saturday that Anwar died because of "an accident in which he was fatally injured

"Police said the girls, 13 and 15, assaulted an Uber Eats driver with a Taser while carjacking him, which led to an accident in which he was fatally injured," CNN tweeted, along with a link its story on the crime.

Police said the girls, 13 and 15, assaulted an Uber Eats driver with a Taser while carjacking him, which led to an… https://t.co/THc9u7xJN5
— CNN (@CNN)1616870584.0

What was the reaction?

CNN was universally condemned for its framing of what police say was "felony murder." Many critics suggested the race of the suspects, both of whom are black, played a role in CNN softening the language used to describe the crime.

In fact, by Sunday morning, CNN's framing of the crime as an "accident" was one of Twitter's top trending topics with more than 100,000 tweets.

  • "HEY! ANYBODY HOME? THIS IS NOT AN 'ACCIDENT,'" liberal commentator Keith Olbermann said.
  • "These girls made a whoopsie when they murdered this man. Total accident. They were in wrong place at wrong time! They're good kids! Kids murder in cold blood/ make mistakes," comedian Tim Dillon mocked.
  • "Wonder what took CNN so long to report what the rest of us did days ago. Doesn't advance their poisonous race narrative, that's why," Fox News host Laura Ingraham reacted.
  • "A white man shoots 6 Asians and 2 white people, and he is a white supremacist. A middle eastern man shoots up a store, and well, 'Don't jump to conclusions,' they say. 2 young black girls assault a man with a taser and murder him, and it's an accident. Oh, the hypocrisy," another person said.
  • Two girls murdered a man after car jacking him. Fixed it for you," another person responded.
  • "They murdered him and one of the girls was more concerned with her cellphone still being in the car than the man she just murdered laying dead on the sidewalk," one person noted.
  • "If these girls were white, this headline would be worded much differently and the outrage factor would be dialed up," another person said.
  • "fair to ask why national media highlight certain local crime activity and not others," one person suggested.
  • "It's always interesting how CNN and other news organizations are highly selective when determining whether or not it's worth mentioning the demographics of those involved in incidents such as this," another person noted.
  • "So they 'accidentally' killed him?" another person questioned.
  • "'Fatally injured' is a weird way to say MURDERED," another person said.

Fortunately, more than $400,000 had been raised for Anwar's family by Sunday afternoon.

FELONY MURDER?! We are now all 'extremists'...

FELONY MURDER?! We are now all 'extremists'...