Jason C. Johnson

President, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund | Co-host Holding the Line Podcast |Attorney | Former Police Executive

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

Great question.

LELDF is highly selective about the cases we support.

We don’t defend misconduct.

We ONLY defend officers who have been unfairly targeted and politically prosecuted for lawful actions they took in the line of duty.

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

@JohnDediePolSci Not an Anthony Brown fan or defender, but is there a reason to go after the cops?

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

Take a moment to listen to our Holding the Line episode with first half of our interview with former East Haven, CT police officer Dennis Spaulding. Unbelievable story! 2/2 to be released next week.

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

ON THE PODCAST: Dennis Spaulding exposed a $2 million fraud by organized crime and hundreds of illegal immigrants who used fraudulent license plates and licenses.

The Obama DOJ put him and 3 other cops in prison for it.

[City Journal @CityJournal]

The legal doctrine outlined in Brady v. Maryland has been twisted to target and tarnish police officers, offering them fewer rights than criminal defendants. @LELDF_President explains:

[Jami Burns @jamiburns45]

⚠️ Manhunt for Brown University gunman • Question of gun control🌟Stellar insight: @TheJohnNantz, @LELDF_President, Kelly Sadler @KellyRiddell @NEWSMAX

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

Former Deputy U.S. Marshal Cory Novick was stripped of his career, not because of misconduct, but because he told the truth.

While serving as a Deputy Marshal, Novick testified in the high-profile prosecution of MPD officer Terence Sutton—a case that depended on portraying Sutton’s conduct as reckless and indifferent.

But Novick, called as a government witness, did what every law enforcement officer is sworn to do: He testified truthfully.

His testimony was consistent with standard policing practice and directly undermined the narrative federal prosecutors wanted to advance.

For that, Novick paid the price.

Shortly after his testimony, and without warning, explanation, or any record of disciplinary issues, Novick was abruptly placed on the so-called “Lewis list” — a secretive designation of officers whose credibility the government claims is impaired.

Placement on that list ended his service with the U.S. Marshals. He was never given notice. Never given a hearing. Never even told the factual basis for the action.

This was retaliation — plain and simple — for testimony that conflicted with a political prosecution.

The decision came during the Biden Administration, under the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

In their drive to secure convictions in the Sutton case, prosecutors abused the Lewis list as a weapon against one of their own witnesses, effectively ending a law enforcement officer’s career for doing the right thing.

If this stands, the precedent is devastating: any officer who testifies truthfully but fails to support the government’s case can be destroyed.

That is not justice. That is politics. And it sends a chilling message to every law enforcement officer who might be called to the stand.

Cory Novick’s record speaks for itself. He served as a Metropolitan Police officer, a Calvert County Deputy Sheriff, and later as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He has no history of misconduct.

His only “offense” was telling the truth.

This is a gross miscarriage of justice.

The misuse of the Lewis list to retaliate against a government witness is as dangerous as it is unlawful.

Novick deserves reinstatement, restoration of his career, and full exoneration. Anything less rewards political abuse and undermines the very foundation of the justice system.

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

Join us praying for the National Guardsmen ambushed earlier today in Washington, D.C.

While men and women standing up to protect our communities are increasingly vilified and targeted with violence, this horrific attack is especially heartbreaking.

[Rep. Chip Roy Press Office @RepChipRoy]

The @LELDF released a report last month outlining how a Soros-affiliated criminal justice "reform" NGO helps RELEASE dangerous criminals back onto our streets.

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

This is a gross miscarriage of justice.

The misuse of the Lewis list to retaliate against a government witness is as dangerous as it is unlawful.

Novick deserves reinstatement, restoration of his career, and full exoneration. https://t.co/0HAWUcuPGl

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

As we remember September 11th, let us honor the legacy of those who courageously ran toward danger and saved countless lives. #NeverForget

[Parker Thayer @ParkerThayer]

Iryna Zarutska is dead because of bad policy — bad policy that seemingly spread to every major city all at once.

Why, and how?

Obviously Soros DA’s play a huge role but there’s more.

There’s a group writing the policies for them, and @LELDF broke the full story today…🧵

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

. @LELDF broke the story of this secret arrangement between billionaire donors and progressive DA’s, regulated and enforced by a behind the scenes private entity. Read here:

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

🚨 NEW REPORT

We're exposing how donors & activists are secretly running America’s prosecutors’ offices: https://t.co/FUvS9AlAY4

[Peter Moskos @PeterMoskos]

Seattle had ~1,300 cops and 19 murders in 2016.
Since then social service funding has "exploded" (if ChatGPT is to be believed). And while #defund hasn't exactly reduced police costs, it has reduced police numbers to ~900. In 2024 they could say, "crime is down!" With 53 murders.

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

@Brad7News @PGPDNews

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

What's next for the four juveniles who killed a young mother while fleeing an armed robbery in a stolen car?

Thanks to Maryland's juvenile justice laws, the answer will disgust you.

Insights from @LELDF_President https://t.co/oJdgVw8WmR

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

Mr. Attorney General @OAGMaryland , Would it be too much to ask that in announcements like these you indicate that your office determined the officers actions to be objectively reasonable and legally justified? Merely saying you will not seek charges isn’t sufficient.

[Anthony G. Brown @OAGMaryland]

I’ve announced my decision not to seek charges in the Saturday, November 30, 2024 fatal officer-involved shooting involving the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) in Laurel, Howard
County, Maryland.

Read more: https://t.co/qLZgovb0gC

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

BLM demanded cops wear body cameras... and it did not turn out the way they thought it would.

📢 NEW bodycam breakdown from @LELDF_President

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

Sad, yes. But one would think the leader of Baltimore’s civilian oversight body would know that the Office of the Attorney General investigates fatalities involving police, not BPD. Also, it is prudent to withhold judgment and wait for evidence. Facts, not emotion. @FOP3 @LELDF

[Aaron Maybin @AaronMMaybin]

This is sad on so many levels. First, there’s the communal trauma of another officer involved shooting. Then we have to deal with the fact that we will now be dependent on the police investigating themselves instead of us independently investigating what really happened.

[Law Enforcement Legal Defense @LELDF]

There's no good footage that can come from the riots and violence targeting law enforcement officers across the country—but this is as close as we’re going to get.

The men and women protecting our communities do what they do because they love this country. 🇺🇸

[Jason C. Johnson @LELDF_President]

A make pretend consent decree? That’s not how this works…. that’s not how any of this works… If you want to reform your police department, go ahead. But please stop all the theatrics at the expense of your residents’ safety. https://t.co/wmdRIPOZyv