The advent of social media platforms such as TikTok has created new arenas for potential legal transgressions, as evidenced through the controversial videos of Johnny McEntee. Previously serving as an aide to Donald Trump, McEntee had been dismissed due to a flagged gambling issue threatening the validity of his security clearance, before being rehired to oversee Trump’s Presidential Personnel Office. Presently, he is holding a senior advisory role at a Heritage Foundation initiative creating a prospectus for the upcoming Republican administration. Above the Law reveals an unwelcome element of McEntee’s online persona.
In more informal spaces, McEntee has allegedly admitted to perpetrating federal crimes. Specifically, he is said to distribute counterfeit money to homeless individuals, thereby setting them up for arrest upon using said counterfeit money. The mere suggestion of such actions is disturbing and unlawful.
Some may argue that perhaps McEntee is presenting a fictitious account of his actions to provoke a response or troll his viewers. However, if his confessions hold any truth, he would be in direct violation of 18 U.S. Code § 472. This law targets anyone who, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, sells or attempts to pass counterfeit money or keeps it in their possession. The punishment for this federal crime is a substantial fine, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.
While the homeless people implicated in this scheme may not necessarily have the requisite fraudulent intent, they could still possibly face arrest for attempting to use counterfeit bills. This is a reality even more unsettling in light of the fact that George Floyd was, for instance, confronted by police for allegedly attempting to spend a counterfeit bill, an interaction that ultimately led to his tragic death.
This case serves as a stark reminder: committing federal crimes regardless of the platform used for admission is never sensible. To those who might need to hear it again: do not commit federal crimes. In light of McEntee’s videos, this advice seems more relevant than ever.