WSVN — A man who calls himself a “private attorney general” is threatening to indict a Miami-Dade judge. Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is on the case with the exclusive.
We were invited to a Cooper City home to meet with Anthony Williams, a man who calls himself a “private attorney general” and who challenges conventional law enforcement for a living.
Anthony Williams: “I think the first one we’re probably going to do here is Judge Beatrice Butchko.”
Williams is targeting Beatrice Butchko, a Miami-Dade judge who hears foreclosure cases. Williams is threatening to indict her.
Anthony Williams: “She basically has disregarded all the evidence in a case, in one of my client’s cases, where it’s a foreclosure case.”
But Williams is not an attorney, and the indictment he is promising would come from what he calls a common law grand jury, which operates outside normal legal channels.
Anthony Williams: “They’re just people, regular people like you and me.”
Carmel Cafiero: “And when do they meet?”
Anthony Williams: “Well, just different times.”
Carmel Cafiero: “Where?”
Anthony Williams: “Different places.”
Carmel Cafiero: “But under what authority. I’m not getting it, OK?
Anthony Williams: “Well, first of all, under divine authority by the Bible.”
Williams works through the Common Law Office of America. According to its website, the office handles legal issues, including traffic, foreclosure and mortgages.
Anthony Williams: “You just committed a felony, ma’am. You just committed a felony.”
Clerk: “No, I didn’t.”
Williams has been promoting his beliefs for years. He even had his own “private attorney general” ID made up which he claims is accepted by the TSA.
Carmel Cafiero: “That’s not a de facto government ID.
Anthony Williams: “I fly with this ID.”
He also carries a police badge.
Anthony Williams: “I’ve taken an oath as a sovereign peace officer.”
Williams says he hasn’t arrested anybody, yet. But he tried to in Hawaii.
Anthony Williams: “Once I go arrest him, I come to you all. I’m gonna bring him here for you all to book him.”
Officer: “And we’re not gonna book him.”
Williams rejects the title of sovereign citizen, a movement the FBI labels as the number one domestic threat in the country. But many of his beliefs seem to mirror those attributed to sovereign citizens, like claiming traditional laws do not apply to them.
Carmel Cafiero: “Do you have a driver’s license?”
Anthony Williams: “No, I do not.”
Carmel Cafiero: “Have you been ticketed?”
Anthony Williams: “Yes, I have.”
Williams also created his own license plate.
Anthony Williams: “I don’t use a state tag.”
Carmel Cafiero: “What gives you the right to do that?”
Anthony Williams: “Because I’m an American.’
Williams appeared in a Hawaii courtroom and tried to convince the judge he did not need to be a licensed attorney to assist a client in a case.
Anthony Williams: “I am not a member of the Hawaii Bar Association nor the American Bar Association. I do not have a license to practice law because there’s no such license.”
That argument didn’t work in Hawaii, and it may not work here. 7News has learned Williams is now being investigated in Florida for the unlicensed practice of law. Meanwhile, Williams’ threat to indict Judge Butchko in the foreclosure case he is handling comes after he filed a $3 million lawsuit against the judge claiming civil rights violations. A federal judge found the claims “…meritless, factually and legally frivolous” and threw the case out.
Justification for all this, according to Williams, comes from court cases. Critics contend he cherry-picks facts to fit his vision. But no matter what you believe, count on hearing more from and about Anthony Williams.
Carmel Cafiero, 7News.
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