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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Sen. Paul, Scott Bullock: Civil Forfeiture has Ruined Countless Lives. It's Long Overdue for Reform

Government agents should not profit from seizing property, especially if that property was taken from the innocent

Justice Clarence Thomas made headlines last month when he criticized civil forfeiture, a notorious police practice that allows law enforcement to confiscate property, even from people who have never been charged with a crime. “This system,” he wrote, “has led to egregious and well-chronicled abuses.”

Hearing one of the Supreme Court’s most conservative members denounce such a shameful violation of our civil liberties gives us hope that civil forfeiture can be drastically curtailed.

To prevent future abuses, I, along with Rep. Tim Walberg, reintroduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act) in March. The FAIR Act would dramatically reform federal civil-forfeiture laws to respect the American people’s Fifth Amendment rights while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds from crime.

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6 comments:

Jim said...

Outstanding.
This is LONG overdue. The taking of property without due process is just wrong.

Anonymous said...

Weird that Donald Trump agreed that it was a good tool when meeting with all the Sheriffs. I really don't think he understood all what he was agreeing with at the time in the meeting. I'm sure once he "gets the picture" he will agree with this decision.

Anonymous said...

That's funny.
Donald understands everything his bosses have told him.
Don't be fooled by Mr Freemason

Anonymous said...

Why are you bashing Trump and not the police who STEAL this money and property?

lmclain said...

where were these do-gooders for all the years the armed agents of our goverbnment essentially committed armed robbery to the tune of 25 BILLION DOLLARS. NOW, they want to do the right thing and honor the Constitution? . No charges, no trial. Hand over the money or die.
Keep cheering.

Anonymous said...

If somebody steals my stuff they WILL pay.