In February 2019, controversial Maryland Attorney Robbie Leonard threatened to doxx law-abiding Second Amendment proponents.
To date, Robbie Leonard has yet to apologize.
Who is Robbie Leonard?
Robert Joseph Leonard – he practices law by the ever-so professional moniker, “Robbie” – is a Maryland attorney and three-time unsuccessful candidate for public office.
A separate online bio lists Robbie Leonard as a partner with Leonard & McCliggott Law Group, a general practice Baltimore law firm.
In February 2019, Robbie Leonard jumped on Facebook, blasted Second Amendment supporters, and called on his friends to doxx them.
But Leonard went much further.
He disparaged Second Amendment supporters as “terrorists in the making” and demanded the FBI investigate them – for peaceably assembling.
The Maryland Attorney Robbie Leonard Doxxing Story
The always-measured Leonard called upon his Facebook friends to doxx Second Amendment activists who were peacefully assembling in Annapolis to speak to the lawmakers in 2019 during the annual 90-day legislative session.
Doxing is the internet-based practice of researching and broadcasting private or identifiable information (especially personally identifiable information).
In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly considered penalizing doxxing criminally.
Robert Joseph Leonard, Officer of the Court, Threatens to Illegally Doxx Marylanders for Exercising Their First Amendment Rights
Think about this for a moment.
Robbie Leonard is an attorney.
He has practiced law for over a decade now. He’s a partner in his law firm.
Shouldn’t Robert Joseph Leonard know the law?
Why would Mr. Leonard call on vast social media followers to harass peacefully assembled Marylanders for no other reason than supporting and upholding their Constitutional rights?
Because he doesn’t like that.
Mr. Leonard’s post sparked widespread outrage and controversy – so much so that he went viral on social media.
“Time to dox (sic) some homegrown terrorists, ” Leonard said on Facebook in February 2019.
Second Amendment supporters often visit state lawmakers on “Gun Day In Annapolis,” when the Maryland General Assembly meets during its annual 90-day legislative session from January to April.
Maryland lawmakers typically hear several hours of testimony on gun-related legislation during an annual 90-day legislative session.
In 2019, the 2A proponents pictured above legally and peacefully stood on Annapolis sidewalks, held signs, and wore shirts that said, “We Will Not Comply.”
In other words, these same 2A supporters peacefully exercised their First Amendment rights to support the Second Amendment.
One man wearing a “We Will Not Comply” shirt told A Miner Detail that they’ve had enough of Maryland’s “overreaching gun laws.”
Maryland Political Lawyer Robbie Leonard Ignites a Firestorm
Robbie Leonard’s Second Amendment social media doxxing post ignited intense backlash nationwide.
Here at home, Marylanders had a few things they wanted to say about Leonard’s doxxing fantasy.
“We think it’s disgusting,” Paul Brockman told A Miner Detail. Brockman is a Maryland Second Amendment activist and “captain” in the Maryland gun rights advocacy group The Patriot Picket, founded in 2013.
“Leonard should apologize for it. An apology would be the compassionate thing to do,” Brockman said.
But Leonard refused to apologize.
“I mean, anybody who would….and, unfortunately, we see it more and more on the Democratic side,” Brockman continued.
“They don’t want people exercising their First Amendment rights, and that was their First Amendment right to go out there on the sidewalk and say whatever they want – pro-gun, anti-gun.”
Mr. Brockman said he traveled from Elkridge to Annapolis with his Patriot Picket friends “to testify against a lot of the bad gun control legislation” and “a few good ones.”
Maryland Democrats Refused to Condemn Robbie Leonard
After Leonard called on his Facebook friends to doxx these 2A supporters and defenders, former Maryland Democratic Party Executive Director Ben Smith tried to clean up Leonard’s self-created mess.
After all, Leonard is a member of the Maryland Democratic Party. Maryland’s Democratic Party’s website lists Leonard as a”DNC member.”
Ben Smith, a former Maryland Democratic Party executive director, released a statement after Leonard’s social media doxxing threat went viral.
“When discussing firearm regulations, the specter of gun violence is always present,” the statement read.
“These fraught conversations require peace and healing, not escalated conflict.”
Mr. Smith formally served as the Maryland Democratic Party executive director in 2019, and in 2022, he ran Peter Franchot‘s gubernatorial campaign.
(Mr. Franchot was defeated in the Democratic primary by now-Gov. Wes Moore.)
Maryland Democrats Blammed 2A Supporters
“When activists wear shirts stating ‘We will not comply with new firearm regulations, that action escalates the conflict and a willingness to flout the rule of law.”
Mr. Smith did not condemn Robbie Leonard, who threatened to call the FBI on law-abiding citizens peacefully assembled and exercising their right to be heard before their state lawmakers.
Ben Smith never mentioned Leonard by name in his statement, but doxxing did get an honorable mention.
“Doxxing escalates the conflict and violates privacy rights,” Smith’s statement said.
“The Maryland Democratic Party respects the rule of law and peaceful participation in the legislative process. We ask that advocates on both sides do the same.”
A Change.org petition called on Leonard to resign from his elected Maryland Democratic Party position.
Robbie Leonard says Second Amendment supporters are terrorists
Instead of dialing it back, Robbie Leonard doubled down on his doxxing fantasy and amped up his rhetoric.
“I hope the FBI runs the name of every witness wearing a t-shirt that says ‘We Will Not Comply’ t-shirt,” Leonard wrote.
(That’s unconstitutional, by the way.)
“They’re a bunch of terrorists in the making.”
We Will Not Comply Slogan
Patriot Picket founder Jeff Hulbert of Chester, Md., said he was outraged over Leonard’s social media comments.
He said Leonard’s post was “a typical reaction from Democrats who want to feel first and then think later.”
“Government can’t operate when Democrats only navigate with their feelings.”
Mr. Hulbert said his group’s slogan, “We Will Not Comply,” is a forecast.
“It’s not a threat; it’s a forecast.”
“It says if they pass these tyrannical laws where they, say, a class of rifle that they told us would not be restricted six years ago, now they’re back to saying we want to take them away.”
“They have violated a pledge. They’ve always said, ‘We’re not coming for your guns.’ This is proof that they are coming for our guns no matter what.”
Hulbert also had some harsh words for then-Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican.
“I wish he [Hogan] would stop running for president and focus on the number of times in Maryland that our rights are being violated and infringed upon.”
Robbie Leonard’s Failed Political Bids
It’s a challenging political landscape for Robbie Leonard.
Baltimore County voters have rejected Robbie Leonard three times to date.
Leonard ran unsuccessfully for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 42-B in 2014.
Republican Chris West defeated Leonard in the 2018 Maryland State Senate District 42 general election.
In July 2022, Baltimore County voters rejected Leonard a third time in the Democratic primary for Baltimore County state’s attorney.
Robbie Leonard’s Maryland Attorney Grievances
In Robbie Leonard’s failed 2022 primary bid for Baltimore County State’s Attorney, Leonard’s opponent, Scott Shellenberger, called out Leonard over a letter of reprimand Leonard received from the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland for using his cell phone to record witness testimony during a lead paint trial in Baltimore City.
Leonard admitted his mistake and took responsibility.
I’ll bet Leonard is funded by Soros and will ensure Baltimore County will go ghetto by being soft on crime like Mosby.