Prof. Emmanuel Mauleón Interviewed by Newsweek About New Pretti Videos

Professor Emmanuel Mauleón was interviewed by Newsweek regarding the new videos that have emerged showing Alex Pretti being forcefully taken to the ground by federal agents after kicking out the taillight of their vehicle during an encounter on January 13. MAGA commentators have taken to social media to claim that the videos of the January 13 confrontation prove Pretti was an “agitator” who sought to attack federal law enforcement. Prof. Mauleón said that a prior confrontation “that involved, at most, yelling at officers and breaking a taillight — has no legal bearing on whether lethal force was justified at the moment Pretti was shot.” He added, “Fourth Amendment use-of-force analysis turns on whether an officer reasonably perceived an imminent threat at that moment, not on after-the-fact efforts to recast minor prior conduct as evidence of dangerousness.” He also noted there was no evidence to suggest that the federal agents involved in the shooting were aware of the earlier encounter.