Holder limits seized-asset sharing process that split billions w/ local, state police

[Shodown]

Wait, what? Holder making a decision that supports the people???

 

[Glocktogo]

You could knock me over with a feather right now.

 

[dennishoddy]

You could knock me over with a feather right now.

Not me. You have to remember the segment of society that holder has traditionally protected while in office.

 

[Sanford]

I don't trust him - I think there's more to it.

Holder’s decision allows limited exceptions, including illegal firearms, ammunition, explosives and property associated with child pornography, a small fraction of the total. This would eliminate virtually all cash and vehicle seizures made by local and state police from the program.

Looks like he wants to shift the focus to confiscation of guns and ammo (and toss a couple of others in just as a diversion).

 

[_CY_]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/10/11/cash-seizures-fuel-police-spending/

One audit examined about $3.4 million in Equitable Sharing funds that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol spent from July 2009 to June 2012.

The audit found $1.9 million in unallowable and unsupported expenditures relating to salaries, overtime pay, construction, fees paid to contractors and the use of two Ford F-150 pickup trucks by non-law enforcement personnel.

Oklahoma authorities did not return calls seeking comment.

Of the nearly $2.5 billion in spending reported in the forms, 81 percent came from cash and property seizures in which no indictment was filed, according to an analysis by The Post. Owners must prove that their money or property was acquired legally in order to get it back.

There have been 61,998 cash seizures on highways and elsewhere since 9/11 without search warrants or indictments and processed through the Equitable Sharing Program, according to an analysis of Justice data obtained by The Post.~

 

[SMS]

This has got to be a trick…LOL.

 

[Foghorn]

I find some irony that everyone was up in arms over obama's executive orders circumventing emigration laws, but fully support holder circumventing asset forfiture laws...

When did we stop holding elected officials responsible for passing stupid laws instead of allowing them bypass the process and rule over us?

While I agree asset forfiture laws needed to be reformed we are all a little less free when one man, an unelected man at that can change the laws of our country

Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape

 

[dennishoddy]

I find some irony that everyone was up in arms over obama's executive orders circumventing emigration laws, but fully support holder circumventing asset forfiture laws...

When did we stop holding elected officials responsible for passing stupid laws instead of allowing them bypass the process and rule over us?

While I agree asset forfiture laws needed to be reformed we are all a little less free when one man, an unelected man at that can change the laws of our country

Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape

Was the forfeiture law passed through congress?

 

[Foghorn]

I thought all laws were passed by congress? This may be an exception similar to atf's enforcement of the nfa.... Which I also disagree with. But I'm pretty sure these laws came from the late 80's early 90's cocaine cowboy days, and we the people asked for them

Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape

 

[SMS]

My understanding is he is not changing any law, but changing/ending a federal program wherein federal authorities "adopt" a local/state seizure after the fact and then share the money/property with the local agencies who did the work...basically using federal law to justify/enforce the seizure when there is no applicable state or local law.

The federal forfeiture laws are still in effect but without this program local police wouldn't normally be able to make a seizure unless there was an applicable state/local law (at least that's my understanding of it).