A small Kansas newspaper, The Marion County Record. Was raided by a local police Chief, that was being investigated for sexual misconduct by the newspaper.
The raid was not only conducted on the Newspaper’s office. They also searched the homes of all the reporters and owners. Seizing all of their computers and phones. In what has been described as an unconstitutional move. The raid was so taxing on the 98-year-old Co-owner of the paper. That she died shortly after. Footage of the raid on Joan Meyer’s home has just become available.
The case is currently being investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Who said, that the warrant used in the raid and seizure. Is now deemed to be invalid. The Marion County Record and its employees will have all of their property returned. Questions have been raised. Into the legality of methods used to obtain the warrant. It appears a number of legal steps were ignored. The full details of what led police to acquire a warrant are explained in CBS News piece below
It’s alleged, that a power-hungry Police chief had an axe to grind. He used the first opportunity he had, to find out what information the paper had acquired on him. All it took was a false claim about the publication. For the Chief to possibly fabricate cause for a warrant. Against a newspaper and its journalists for investigating a possible corrupt local official. That sounds like the definition of investigative journalism. Exactly what newspaper journalists get paid to do.
A raid and seizure of a newspaper and its property. Has news outlets, around the country outraged. It raises many constitutional questions. There are specific laws that prevent this situation from taking place in this country. Law enforcement must first obtain a subpoena before any action against a newspaper.
This may seem like just a case of small-town corruption. However, the precedent set could have devastating consequences. On first amendment freedoms of speech and the press.
For all the latest details of this ongoing story. Check out the CNN link below.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/16/us/kansas-marion-newspaper-raid-search-warrant
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