Krauthammer: Holder’s Ferguson comments 'astonishing'

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Krauthammer: Holder’s Ferguson Comments “Astonishing”

Charles Krauthammer criticized Attorney General Eric Holder Tuesday for his comments on the rioting in Ferguson, MO and protests nationwide following a grand jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the death of teenager Michael Brown.

Charles Krauthammer said Tuesday on "Special Report with Bret Baier" that Attorney General Eric Holder's comments about the protests in Ferguson were "astonishing" because Holder said the violence would not be "condoned" rather than using a harsher word.

Holder made the comments Tuesday in response to the looting and arson that have accompanied the protests, which erupted after a grand jury decided not to indict white police officer Darren Wilson in the death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

“It is clear that I think that acts of violence threaten to drown out those who have legitimate voices, legitimate demonstrators, and those acts of violence, cannot and will not be condoned," the attorney general said.

Krauthammer, a syndicated columnist and a Fox News contributor, said Holder made an “astonishing statement” and said it was in “stark contrast” to the way President Obama spoke about the violence.

"I was watching this live and when he said the acts of violence cannot and will not be, I’m waiting for the word tolerated," Krauthammer said. "He is the attorney general of the United States and he uses the word condoned. Is there anybody who thinks that arson and looting ought to be condoned? I think that is an astonishing statement by an attorney general and then the contrast with the president is very stark."

Krauthammer added that Holder needs to take a much harsher stance against the protesters who are engaging in violent or criminal behavior.

“The attorney general condemning the arson and looting by saying it threaten to drowns out legitimate voices,” Krauthammer said. “That’s not the reason that this is wrong. It is because it is wrong. It’s an assault on other people. It’s an assault on the law.”