Victims of Political Speech Raids From Leftist Politicians Share Their Stories

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

The left loves free speech SO MUCH until they don't!

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On October 3rd, 2013, the family homes and businesses of politically active Wisconsinites were subject to harrowing raids by law enforcement.

Their crime? Having the “wrong” political views and daring to voice them.

It all began when Scott Walker won the governor’s race in Wisconsin and kicked off a high-profile campaign to reform public-employee unions. A Wisconsin District Attorney, John Chisholm, decided to look for illegal coordination between Walker and the groups that engaged in constitutionally protected issue advocacy in support of his agenda.

Chisholm, who is being sued for his actions, used what should have been a routine investigation into the theft of funds from a non-profit as a springboard into investigating nearly all conservative groups in the state. The expansion of the investigation led to the now-infamous early morning raids.

A colleague of the prosecutor suggested to the media that Chisholm “felt it was his personal duty” to stop Walker’s efforts, as Chisholm’s wife was employed by the teacher’s union.

Here are the stories of some of the victims of Chisholm’s raids.

Before we get to the raids themselves, there are a few things you need to know about the type of investigations Wisconsin is engaged in, called “John Doe” investigations.

Much like grand jury investigations, “John Doe” probes are secret investigations where state officials investigate targets to see if there is probable cause that crimes were committed.

However, unlike grand juries, “John Doe” investigations are overseen directly by a judge, rather than including a grand jury in the process, and, more importantly, targets of the investigation are subject to a gag order about the investigation, and are thereby banned from defending themselves outside of a closed courtroom.

Cindy Archer

(stock photo)



“They came with a battering ram.”

Cindy Archer awoke to sounds of pounding on the door and her dog’s frantic barks on the morning of October 3rd, 2013*. She looked outside to see the police at her door carrying a battering ram. As she ran half-awake and only partially clothed, some of the officers yelled for her to come to the door while others told her to grab some clothes.

Aware that dogs are often killed in police raids, she begged the cops*, “Please don’t shoot my dogs, please don’t shoot my dogs, just don’t shoot my dogs.”

“I couldn’t get them to stop barking, and I couldn’t get them outside quick enough” said Archer. “I saw a gun and barking dogs. I was scared and knew this was a bad mix.”

Fortunately, the dogs were okay, but the family’s ordeal was only beginning. The cops swarmed the house, pushing their way into the bathroom where her partner was showering.

While all of this was happening, she, like everyone else who was raided, was told that she was not allowed to speak to anyone, even her lawyer, about what happened.

And yet, in what would become a common tactic by the government employees involved in the investigation, someone privy to the raid tipped off a reporter who showed up at the scene.



Read more: http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/i...y-cops-over-political-speech/3/#ixzz3Y7pidGQQ