The Trump Administration has announced the decision to drop criminal charges against the Maude family, small farmers and ranchers from South Dakota. The charges were related to a land dispute involving 25 acres of federal land. The case was initiated during the Biden Administration and has been described by the Trump Administration as "politically motivated."
Brooke Rollins, a senior advisor in the Trump Administration, stated, "The Maudes are not criminals. They have worked their land since the early 1900s and something that should have been a minor civil land dispute that was over and done with quickly turned into an overzealous criminal prosecution on a hardworking family that was close to losing their home, children, and livelihood. Not in this America, not under President Trump."
Attorney General Pamela Bondi commented on the decision, emphasizing the administration's focus on what she described as more pressing criminal concerns. She stated, "The prior administration’s misguided agenda must be reversed in order to make America safe again. This Department of Justice will spend our resources and efforts on prosecuting criminals, getting drugs off the streets, and identifying and dismantling the weaponization."
The Maude family's case has become an example for the current administration's policy shift toward reducing what they call overregulation. President Trump was inaugurated 100 days ago, and according to Rollins, "This case, and the many others that are currently under review, shows that this Administration is fully committed to ending government regulation by prosecution."
The Maude family will hold a press conference in Washington, D.C. on April 30th to discuss further developments and plans by the Trump Administration to address government prosecution policies.
