For most folks, the name Jake Paul means absolutely nothing.
Consider yourself lucky.
For the rest of us who have been subjected to knowing about this individual, though, Jake Paul is a prime-time trainwreck. Maybe not as much as this brother, Logan Paul, but pretty close. After all, Logan had enough sense not to film himself at a riot. However, both have been knee-deep in the aftermath of George Floyd.
In fact, his actions following that death have led to an FBI investigation, an investigation that also led to guns being seized from his home.
“The FBI is investigating allegations of criminal acts surrounding the incident at Scottsdale Fashion Square in May 2020,” Jill McCabe, a spokeswoman for the FBI Phoenix field office, told The Washington Post in an email. “This morning the FBI executed federal search warrants in California and Las Vegas, Nevada in connection with this investigation.”
What appeared to be multiple firearms were found scattered throughout the property, including what looked like a long gun propped up against a hot tub in the backyard. https://t.co/oOkiwY7kSz pic.twitter.com/ZeCXhPI5Aa
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 5, 2020
The search warrants and affidavit filed in the case have been sealed and the FBI declined to provide further details about the nature of the investigation.
However, it seems the investigation came as a result of video evidence showing Jake Paul taking part in an Arizona riot, one of many that followed the death of George Floyd while being arrested by Minneapolis police. The evidence clearly shows Paul at the riot, including him taking a looted bottle of vodka.
Since Paul crossed state lines to take part in a riot, that makes it a federal case, hence the FBI’s involvement.
Now, we don’t know precisely why the FBI was interested in Paul’s firearms. Some are suggesting the weapons are illegal, which is possible. Maybe even probable since Paul tends to think the rules don’t, or shouldn’t, apply to him.
After all, despite openly displaying his firearm collection on his YouTube channel, he’s also advocated for gun control.
He also took a brief pause from daily vlogging to film a documentary after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. In the film, Paul advocated for some measures to reduce gun violence, but some criticized the YouTube star for flaunting firearms in previous videos. While he was in Parkland, Paul kept an elaborate tattoo of a large rifle firing a bullet on his thigh covered.
So, I’m less than supportive.
That said, if Paul’s firearms aren’t breaking the law, the FBI is out of line to have seized them. He has Second Amendment rights, the same as anyone else. As such, the FBI needs to explain why the firearms were taken, especially since they weren’t used in the riot Paul is being investigated over.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member