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Comment by atm3ga | Hacker News Reader

When federal agents, such as the FBI, attempt to question you, it is strongly advised that you do not talk to them without a lawyer present. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees you the right to remain silent and to have an attorney. There were several instances in this account where Serafini's answers could be used to paint his involvement as not so innocent.

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>When federal agents, such as the FBI, attempt to question you, it is strongly advised that you do not talk to them without a lawyer present.

Yes. This. James Duane lays out[0] why this is so important. I strongly encourage everyone resident in the US to view this video as it makes (IMHO) a very strong case for never talking to the police -- they are not (at least in their official capacities) your friends.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE

> When federal agents, such as the FBI, attempt to question you, it is strongly advised that you do not talk to them without a lawyer present.

Good advice but it should be any law enforcement…not just federal agents.

“I don’t answer questions without my attorney present. Leave me your card and I will have my lawyer contact you” are powerful words.

Shame the constitution only matters when Trump or his cronies say it does. The American justice system has been broken and the cause came from within.

this is factually not accurate, trump's actions are constantly getting legally challenged and blocked

Just not by SCOTUS (cf. the shadow docket which has not gone against Trump since May).

SCOTUS actually took some of that "constantly being legally challenged and blocked" away when they took away nation-wide injunctions. Even if they're issued by federal judges against nation-wide orders which were given by a nationally-powerful elected official.

> SCOTUS actually took some of that "constantly being legally challenged and blocked" away when they took away nation-wide injunctions.

Arguably, they added to it, since now nation-wide policies are instead being blocked locally by multiple district courts instead of just facing nationwide injunctions in the first place they are litigated.

then why do people keep cooperating? because they're stupid?

Some probably are. Some probably think they're smarter.

I'm guessing most are just scared/intimidated.

Okay… what do you think a lawyer is going to say? Almost mostly, “Answer their questions.”

Another POV is, why assume that this do not cooperate advice, which smart people keep not following, is right? It’s a meme. Are memes important for law and life? They are brain rot.

The advice isn't "don't cooperate", it's "don't cooperate without a lawyer present", and even if the lawyer tells you to answer the question, you're probably still better off with the lawyer present.

But hey, do what you want since you apparently seem to know it's a meme and not advice worth following.

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