As the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon dragged on for most of January, local law enforcement was spread thin and federal agents were nowhere to be seen.
Behind the quiet facade, however, the FBI was running surveillance on the occupation and recording the activists’ public statements, mostly drawn from media reports and the activists' use of social media, while FBI agents encouraged locals to report their experiences with the new strangers in town.
More @ The LA Times
I won't say they won't be found guilty in their first trial, I'm guessing that a forgone conclusion; but nothing in this article falls outside free speech precedence already established by SCOTUS. This article doesn't establish who specifically to someone else specifically to commit a crime directed towards a specific BLM officer. Also, The way I read the code under which they were all charged was meant to protect 'elected' persons being prevented from fulfilling the duties of their office. Who specifically was being prevented from fulfilling their duties in this case?
ReplyDeletePS: The issue being protested is 'What portion of the US Constitution affords the President or even the Congress to seize State land (private or public) for a nature preserve once the territory has already been 'disposed of' thru Statehood?'
Good thoughts. Thanks.
DeleteI won't believe much of this until I hear these men admit to it. An old adage comes to mind (Stephen Covey, I think): Plan with the End in Mind.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why they arrested Santilli.
DeleteHe was part of the "conspiracy" just being with them... I don't know. This is the Police State we are trying to figure out.
ReplyDeleteI remember when he went up there to cover it, so I don't see how he conspired anything.
DeleteUnless the arrest was cover to pull him out and give him more " street cred" with the feds. If they used his broadcast to build their case you have to wonder.
DeleteYes, he may be a fed. I don't trust anyone these days and is what happened to my friend Moose when we were in a group together:
Deletehttp://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2012/08/entrapped-moose-is-out.html