Asset Forfeiture Reform Bills Hit The House And Senate

[g5000]

Law enforcement has been running amok, abusing asset forfeiture laws to confiscate the property of American citizens.

Two bills are now before the House and Senate to rein in this abuse.

The House version was submitted by Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan: H.R. 5212.

Under current law, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) may take property suspected to be in connection with a crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime. The Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.

H.R. 5212 was introduced in direct response to several recent stories involving innocent property owners having their property seized by federal officials. In Michigan, a longtime grocer, Terry Dehko, had his bank accounts seized by IRS because they suspected him of being a money launderer. The charges were never filed but Mr. Dehko had to prove that his money was not used in a criminal enterprise.

“This legislation provides commonsense reforms to restore the balance of power away from the government and back to protecting individual rights and due process. We cannot abide a system where citizens fear that law enforcement can seize, forfeit and profit from their property,” Walberg stated.

Walberg has a reputation as being a strong religious conservative.


Over in the Senate, Rand Paul has introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act: FAIR Act.

The FAIR Act would change federal law and protect the rights of property owners by requiring that the government prove its case with clear and convincing evidence before forfeiting seized property. State law enforcement agencies will have to abide by state law when forfeiting seized property. Finally, the legislation would remove the profit incentive for forfeiture by redirecting forfeitures assets from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture Fund to the Treasury's General Fund.

"The federal government has made it far too easy for government agencies to take and profit from the property of those who have not been convicted of a crime. The FAIR Act will ensure that government agencies no longer profit from taking the property of U.S. citizens without due process, while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds of crime," Sen. Paul said.

 

[g5000]

Neither bill has any cosponsors.

[cue doom music]

 

[nodoginnafight]

Hard to believe there are many opponents

 

[TemplarKormac]

Well, those forfeiture laws violate the 4th and 5th Amendment... And why nobody has challenged them in open court is beyond me. Good thing Rand Paul notices.

 

[BlindBoo]

Only a corrupt government would conspire with itself to rob it's citizens of their property without due process. Support the Bills.

 

[bendog]

I can hear supporters being called "drug lord supporters."

 

[g5000]

If a grocer is having to prove his innocence to get his property back...yeah...whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

 

[thereisnospoon]

Law enforcement has been running amok, abusing asset forfeiture laws to confiscate the property of American citizens.

Two bills are now before the House and Senate to rein in this abuse.

The House version was submitted by Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan: H.R. 5212.

Under current law, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) may take property suspected to be in connection with a crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime. The Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.

H.R. 5212 was introduced in direct response to several recent stories involving innocent property owners having their property seized by federal officials. In Michigan, a longtime grocer, Terry Dehko, had his bank accounts seized by IRS because they suspected him of being a money launderer. The charges were never filed but Mr. Dehko had to prove that his money was not used in a criminal enterprise.

“This legislation provides commonsense reforms to restore the balance of power away from the government and back to protecting individual rights and due process. We cannot abide a system where citizens fear that law enforcement can seize, forfeit and profit from their property,” Walberg stated.

Walberg has a reputation as being a strong religious conservative.


Over in the Senate, Rand Paul has introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act: FAIR Act.

The FAIR Act would change federal law and protect the rights of property owners by requiring that the government prove its case with clear and convincing evidence before forfeiting seized property. State law enforcement agencies will have to abide by state law when forfeiting seized property. Finally, the legislation would remove the profit incentive for forfeiture by redirecting forfeitures assets from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture Fund to the Treasury's General Fund.

"The federal government has made it far too easy for government agencies to take and profit from the property of those who have not been convicted of a crime. The FAIR Act will ensure that government agencies no longer profit from taking the property of U.S. citizens without due process, while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds of crime," Sen. Paul said.

Stuff like this?
» Homeland Security Agents Raid Home to Seize Land Rover For Violation of EPA Regulations Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

 

[thereisnospoon]

Law enforcement has been running amok, abusing asset forfeiture laws to confiscate the property of American citizens.

Two bills are now before the House and Senate to rein in this abuse.

The House version was submitted by Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan: H.R. 5212.

Under current law, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) may take property suspected to be in connection with a crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime. The Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.

H.R. 5212 was introduced in direct response to several recent stories involving innocent property owners having their property seized by federal officials. In Michigan, a longtime grocer, Terry Dehko, had his bank accounts seized by IRS because they suspected him of being a money launderer. The charges were never filed but Mr. Dehko had to prove that his money was not used in a criminal enterprise.

“This legislation provides commonsense reforms to restore the balance of power away from the government and back to protecting individual rights and due process. We cannot abide a system where citizens fear that law enforcement can seize, forfeit and profit from their property,” Walberg stated.

Walberg has a reputation as being a strong religious conservative.


Over in the Senate, Rand Paul has introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act: FAIR Act.

The FAIR Act would change federal law and protect the rights of property owners by requiring that the government prove its case with clear and convincing evidence before forfeiting seized property. State law enforcement agencies will have to abide by state law when forfeiting seized property. Finally, the legislation would remove the profit incentive for forfeiture by redirecting forfeitures assets from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture Fund to the Treasury's General Fund.

"The federal government has made it far too easy for government agencies to take and profit from the property of those who have not been convicted of a crime. The FAIR Act will ensure that government agencies no longer profit from taking the property of U.S. citizens without due process, while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds of crime," Sen. Paul said.

Unfortunately, in certain instances, mainly with the IRS has been able to skirt the US Constitution by requiring the burden of proof be placed on the accused, rather than what is prescribed in the 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments that the burden of proof is on the People.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Hard to believe there are many opponents

The absence of co-sponsor support does not translate to opposition.

 

[thereisnospoon]

If a grocer is having to prove his innocence to get his property back...yeah...whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Bingo!

 

[TemplarKormac]

Hard to believe there are many opponents

The absence of co-sponsor support does not translate to opposition.

It translates into fear. Looking out for their own hides, not after ours.

 

[westwall]

Law enforcement has been running amok, abusing asset forfeiture laws to confiscate the property of American citizens.

Two bills are now before the House and Senate to rein in this abuse.

The House version was submitted by Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan: H.R. 5212.

Under current law, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) may take property suspected to be in connection with a crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime. The Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.

H.R. 5212 was introduced in direct response to several recent stories involving innocent property owners having their property seized by federal officials. In Michigan, a longtime grocer, Terry Dehko, had his bank accounts seized by IRS because they suspected him of being a money launderer. The charges were never filed but Mr. Dehko had to prove that his money was not used in a criminal enterprise.

“This legislation provides commonsense reforms to restore the balance of power away from the government and back to protecting individual rights and due process. We cannot abide a system where citizens fear that law enforcement can seize, forfeit and profit from their property,” Walberg stated.

Walberg has a reputation as being a strong religious conservative.


Over in the Senate, Rand Paul has introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act: FAIR Act.

The FAIR Act would change federal law and protect the rights of property owners by requiring that the government prove its case with clear and convincing evidence before forfeiting seized property. State law enforcement agencies will have to abide by state law when forfeiting seized property. Finally, the legislation would remove the profit incentive for forfeiture by redirecting forfeitures assets from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture Fund to the Treasury's General Fund.

"The federal government has made it far too easy for government agencies to take and profit from the property of those who have not been convicted of a crime. The FAIR Act will ensure that government agencies no longer profit from taking the property of U.S. citizens without due process, while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds of crime," Sen. Paul said.

About damned time!

 

[Moonglow]

Due process is the worst thing that Reagan's War on Drugs abused and tried to destroy...Great President my ass and the same with his sock puppet GHW Bush...Then we had Clinton the drug smugglers friend in Arkansas that wanted a million man police force to back up the destruction of due process.. These bastards are a stain upon the Constitution...

 

[Moonglow]

Law enforcement has been running amok, abusing asset forfeiture laws to confiscate the property of American citizens.

Two bills are now before the House and Senate to rein in this abuse.

The House version was submitted by Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan: H.R. 5212.

Under current law, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) may take property suspected to be in connection with a crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime. The Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.

Walberg has a reputation as being a strong religious conservative.


Over in the Senate, Rand Paul has introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act: FAIR Act.

The FAIR Act would change federal law and protect the rights of property owners by requiring that the government prove its case with clear and convincing evidence before forfeiting seized property. State law enforcement agencies will have to abide by state law when forfeiting seized property. Finally, the legislation would remove the profit incentive for forfeiture by redirecting forfeitures assets from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture Fund to the Treasury's General Fund.

"The federal government has made it far too easy for government agencies to take and profit from the property of those who have not been convicted of a crime. The FAIR Act will ensure that government agencies no longer profit from taking the property of U.S. citizens without due process, while maintaining the ability of courts to order the surrender of proceeds of crime," Sen. Paul said.

About damned time!

Since I can't Thank You from the post, I will Thank You in your post...

 

[OKTexas]

Sent a message to my congresscritters that I want them to support these bills.

 

[Moonglow]

I am glad to know that my fellow posters are against tyranny and abuse,,,

 

[g5000]

Hard to believe there are many opponents

The absence of co-sponsor support does not translate to opposition.

No, but it does not translate to a high chance of success of ever making it out of committee, either.

 

[g5000]

Stuff like this?
» Homeland Security Agents Raid Home to Seize Land Rover For Violation of EPA Regulations Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

I like this one better: Highway-Robbing Highway Patrolmen

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

If a grocer is having to prove his innocence to get his property back...yeah...whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

But if it keeps drugs off the street it's worth it....... right????

I emailed both my Senators and my Congressman to support these bills.