Political death and destruction in our home state
Aug 13, 2023 17:02:28 GMT -5
notbob, tnthomas, and 1 more like this
Post by 2old on Aug 13, 2023 17:02:28 GMT -5
kansasreflector.com/2023/08/12/in-marion-county-newspaper-raid-a-grim-threat-to-kansans-first-amendment-rights/
Marion, KS is a small rural community. One of the local businesses was hosting a "meet and greet" with a MAGA Congressman from KS and a MAGA State legislator. When a reporter from the small town newspaper arrived at the meet and greet, he was escorted off the premises by local police. Asked no questions. Didn't even really get inside the building.
The newspaper had been doing some investigating of the business owner. She has a small restaurant and catering business. Seems she got a DUI some time back and her driver's license is suspended. Still driving all over. And, she applied for a liquor license which would not be granted if the State found out about her DUI. Not wanting to publish such negative news about a local businessperson, the paper sent their information to the Chief of Police. Chief goes to a local magistrate and gets a search warrant for the newspaper office, the paper owner's residence, and the reporter's residence.
The entire Marion PD plus two Sheriff's deputies staged unannounced raids at 11:00 a.m. in the morning. Raids simultaneously, but none could be completed until the Chief arrived. So, the two residences were locked down for 2 to 3 hours. The warrant was illegal, in violation of the press's Constitutional rights. All computers, cell phones, files, etc. were confiscated. None should have been removed under an illegal warrant. Instead, the judge should have required a subpoena instead of allowing the warrant.
A worker at the paper office had a finger dislocated as a police officer wrested her cell phone from her hand. The newspaper owner's 98 year old mother was as his home when the raid ensued. The raid was Friday morning. Saturday afternoon she dropped dead from the stress of the hours long raid.
So... police raid with an illegal warrant. Result of raid is confiscation of privileged press information protected by the Constitution. 98 year old lady dies as a result of the raid. Are we caught up yet?? Well, there's more...
The police chief has been in Marion for only 2 months. He came to this little rural town from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Upon arrival in Marion, the paper got a number of calls about his having numerous sexual assault allegations while in KC. Was about to be demoted, so retired and took the job in Marion. The paper had done nothing with this information since none of the people alleging the issues in KC would go public for fear of retaliation. Now, since confiscating all the paper's computers, the police chief has the information on the allegations. He can now effect retaliation on those who contacted the local paper.
Sounds like the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is being called in. The FBI may be needed as Federal suits are filed. Just so sad to see this unravel in a small rural community, but MAGA owns so much of our RED state. Too many local community leaders are flying Trump flags and think they have the same rights of bullying as he is famous for. A lady is dead. Constitutional rights have been violated. The Attorney General of Kansas is strong MAGA. He was the chief counsel for Bannon's "Build the Wall" scam.
I love the State we have live in our entire lives. I hate what the past few years of Trump has done to our communities and our elected officials. It's so different than in the past.
Marion, KS is a small rural community. One of the local businesses was hosting a "meet and greet" with a MAGA Congressman from KS and a MAGA State legislator. When a reporter from the small town newspaper arrived at the meet and greet, he was escorted off the premises by local police. Asked no questions. Didn't even really get inside the building.
The newspaper had been doing some investigating of the business owner. She has a small restaurant and catering business. Seems she got a DUI some time back and her driver's license is suspended. Still driving all over. And, she applied for a liquor license which would not be granted if the State found out about her DUI. Not wanting to publish such negative news about a local businessperson, the paper sent their information to the Chief of Police. Chief goes to a local magistrate and gets a search warrant for the newspaper office, the paper owner's residence, and the reporter's residence.
The entire Marion PD plus two Sheriff's deputies staged unannounced raids at 11:00 a.m. in the morning. Raids simultaneously, but none could be completed until the Chief arrived. So, the two residences were locked down for 2 to 3 hours. The warrant was illegal, in violation of the press's Constitutional rights. All computers, cell phones, files, etc. were confiscated. None should have been removed under an illegal warrant. Instead, the judge should have required a subpoena instead of allowing the warrant.
A worker at the paper office had a finger dislocated as a police officer wrested her cell phone from her hand. The newspaper owner's 98 year old mother was as his home when the raid ensued. The raid was Friday morning. Saturday afternoon she dropped dead from the stress of the hours long raid.
So... police raid with an illegal warrant. Result of raid is confiscation of privileged press information protected by the Constitution. 98 year old lady dies as a result of the raid. Are we caught up yet?? Well, there's more...
The police chief has been in Marion for only 2 months. He came to this little rural town from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Upon arrival in Marion, the paper got a number of calls about his having numerous sexual assault allegations while in KC. Was about to be demoted, so retired and took the job in Marion. The paper had done nothing with this information since none of the people alleging the issues in KC would go public for fear of retaliation. Now, since confiscating all the paper's computers, the police chief has the information on the allegations. He can now effect retaliation on those who contacted the local paper.
Sounds like the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is being called in. The FBI may be needed as Federal suits are filed. Just so sad to see this unravel in a small rural community, but MAGA owns so much of our RED state. Too many local community leaders are flying Trump flags and think they have the same rights of bullying as he is famous for. A lady is dead. Constitutional rights have been violated. The Attorney General of Kansas is strong MAGA. He was the chief counsel for Bannon's "Build the Wall" scam.
I love the State we have live in our entire lives. I hate what the past few years of Trump has done to our communities and our elected officials. It's so different than in the past.
