Judge Dismisses 1 Charge Against Dinah Chollet in Teen ICE Protest Case
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 20
Judge Dismisses 1 Charge Against Dinah Chollet in Teen ICE Protest Case
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 20
Summary
Magistrate Judge Amanda Leviner threw out Dinah Chollet’s misdemeanor charge at an April 8 preliminary hearing, finding no evidence that she caused students to threaten conservative blogger Corey Allen Whittington.
The remaining theory also failed because prosecutors argued Chollet encouraged a school walkout, but the protest was canceled and no underlying crime occurred.
Summerville police had arrested Chollet on Feb. 17 for contributing to the delinquency of a minor after she entered an Instagram chat to support students protesting ICE and warned them about hostile online comments.
Whittington amplified screenshots from the chat, pressed police to act and helped drive a national online backlash that brought threats, doxxing and business damage to Chollet, while the FBI, Secret Service and county sheriff filed no charges.
The dismissal did little to repair the fallout: most outlets that publicized the arrest never noted the ruling, and Chollet’s lawyer later began preparing litigation over the case.