Feds raid Texas secessionist meeting.

[Venant]

Seems like the Feds feel the need to plant informants anywhere. Welcome to the police state, please leave your rights at the door.

[Rukh]

How does the warrant cover everyone? You don't even know how many people will be there.

You quoted they had a warrant for searching the premises. What's your issue here?

[lockedout]

I just love that name, the "patriot act". Surprised there's no "American exceptionalism act" that let's them seize your house or "freedom eagle act" to deny your right to representation.

It's called civil forfeiture.

[the game]

Do we really need Texas? let them leave.

[lockedout]

You quoted they had a warrant for searching the premises. What's your issue here?

They took everyone's cellphone.

[Rukh]

They took everyone's cellphone.

Cell phones are evidence. That's not an issue.

[Revi]

It's called civil forfeiture.

Oh, right, remember hearing about that.. Is that the same law that lets them take your money if you're carrying over a certain amount, and then spend that money on office supplies and department dinners?

And vital work equipment like expensive watches?

[Rukentuts]

Do we really need Texas? let them leave.

They are one of the few red states that are net contributors to the federal government.

[Tinykong]

The raid was a response to legal summons sent by Republic of Texas members to a Kerr County judge and bank employee, demanding they appear in the Republic's court at the Veterans and Foreign Wars building in Bryan the day the officers stormed in. Jarnecke's group, the subject of a half-hour YouTube documentary, maintains a small working government, including official currency, congress and courts.

"You can't just let people go around filing false documents to judges trying to make them appear in front of courts that aren't even real courts," said Kerr County sheriff Rusty Hierholzer, who led the operation.

So, basically a bunch of people set up their own government and are sending people summons to appear in their fake court.

No wonder it got raided?

[Felya]

How does the warrant cover everyone? You don't even know how many people will be there.

By being issued against the place they were meeting at, not the individuals.

[lockedout]

Cell phones are evidence. That's not an issue.

Why stop at cellphones why not take everyone's car in the parking lot as well?

[Poodles]

It's fine Texas, you can leave. I've heard that most southern states are just a money drain anyway. So you go away and we'll see how that goes for you

You heard wrong... While the rest of the country was floundering when the economy took a downturn, we were just fine.

[lockedout]

By being issued against the place they were meeting at, not the individuals.

A cellphone is personal property, not all 60 people were suspected of a crime, they were there for the people responsible for the misdemeanor crime.

[Tsimp]

It's fine Texas, you can leave. I've heard that most southern states are just a money drain anyway. So you go away and we'll see how that goes for you.

You really want a hostile sovereign nation with USA-level nukes embedded in the heart of the US?

[Rukh]

Why stop at cellphones why not take everyone's car in the parking lot as well?

If the warrant said they could search the vehicles on the premises they probably could have searched them. Unlike phones and computers, cars don't store data though, so there's no reason a judge would grant that in a warrant.

[Tinykong]

By being issued against the place they were meeting at, not the individuals.

It covered everyone because they are attempting to build a conspiracy case against members of the fake "government" for creating and issuing the illegal documents.

A search warrant, photographed and emailed by a Republic of Texas member before her phone was confiscated, accuses the two of "simulating legal process." It also authorizes the seizure of all computers, media storage, software, cell phones and paper documents. Hierholzer said the seized devices will be downloaded and reviewed to determine if others conspired in the creation and issuance of false court documents.

[lockedout]

If the warrant said they could search the vehicles on the premises they probably could have searched them. Unlike phones and computers, cars don't store data though, so there's no reason a judge would grant that in a warrant.

So you can't store information in a car? Ok were done talking.

[Felya]

A cellphone is personal property, not all 60 people were suspected of a crime, they were there for the people responsible for the misdemeanor crime.

It's the same as issuing a warrant against a suspected drug manufacturer and seizing property of those who occupy the location.

[Stormdash]

Pretty much everything you would expect from an American government... if by American government you specifically means "central, south, or Caribbean American banana republic autocracies. This is what a Duvalier government, a Noriega government does. There is no terrorism even rationally alleged in a "pro-secession" meeting. Even if secession itself is tacitly an unlawful procedure, lobbying for it is not seditious, doesn't promote force or violence, or any other exchange or activity not explicitly protected by the 1st Amendment.

Interestingly, what if Americans lobbying for an Article V convention included in their agenda of proposed amendments, an amendment by which a secession procedure would be made part of the Constitution? Would that be fit for raiding, too?

Just a travesty.

[lockedout]

It covered everyone because they are attempting to build a conspiracy case against members of the fake "government" for creating and issuing the illegal documents.

From your quote "A search warrant, photographed and emailed by a Republic of Texas member before her phone was confiscated, accuses the two"
Ok gonna need EVERYONE'S cell phone.