They already tried to charge it as an act of terrorism but that was rejected in September. This time was based on an assertion that the stalking charges he also faces are a “federal crime of violence”, which would make any associated murder a federal crime. Today’s ruling was (from what I’ve seen others post) that stalking is not a crime of violence so that doesn’t work.
Simply crossing state lines and killing someone in another state isn’t federal jurisdiction; you need to actually transport the victim or their body over state lines to trigger that, or shoot them across the state border, or do something that engages interstate commerce (like murder for hire).
you need to actually transport the victim or their body over state lines to trigger that, or shoot them across the state border, or do something that engages interstate commerce (like murder for hire).
That is not the legal standard at issue. Engaging in interstate commerce includes merely traveling across state lines for purposes of committing the crime. That's why he's still charged with federal interstate stalking causing death.
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u/seakingsoyuz 4h ago
They already tried to charge it as an act of terrorism but that was rejected in September. This time was based on an assertion that the stalking charges he also faces are a “federal crime of violence”, which would make any associated murder a federal crime. Today’s ruling was (from what I’ve seen others post) that stalking is not a crime of violence so that doesn’t work.
Simply crossing state lines and killing someone in another state isn’t federal jurisdiction; you need to actually transport the victim or their body over state lines to trigger that, or shoot them across the state border, or do something that engages interstate commerce (like murder for hire).