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Did "Stealing From Americans" Just Stop? AG Holder Moves To End Civil Asset Forfeiture

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Since 2011, we have been warning of the rise of 'civil asset forfeiture' (here) with the 'stealing of American's hard-earned assets' having been on the rise signficantly in recent months; as the apparent final stage of empire begins. However, in an odd apparent success for "safeguarding civil liberties," Reuters reports that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said today that State and local police in the United States will no longer be able to use federal laws to justify seizing property without evidence of a crime.

 

As a reminder, Mike Krieger explains what civil asset forfeiture is...

In a nutshell, civil forfeiture is the practice of confiscating items from people, ranging from cash, cars, even homes based on no criminal conviction or charges, merely suspicion.

 

This practice first became widespread for use against pirates, as a way to take possession of contraband goods despite the fact that the ships’ owners in many cases were located thousands of miles away and couldn’t easily be prosecuted. As is often the case, what starts out reasonable becomes a gigantic organized crime ring of criminality, particularly in a society where the rule of law no longer exists for the “elite,” yet anything goes when it comes to pillaging the average citizen.

 

One of the major reasons these programs have become so abused is that the police departments themselves are able to keep much of the confiscated money. So they actually have a perverse incentive to steal. As might be expected, a program that is often touted as being effective against going after major drug kingpins, actually targets the poor and disenfranchised more than anything else.

While this epidemic of law enforcement theft is problematic throughout the country (see these egregious examples from Tennessee and Michigan), it appears Texas has a particularly keen love affair with the practice. Not only did last year’s story take place in Texas, today’s highlighted episode also takes place in the Lone Star State. This time in a town of 150 people called Estelline, which earns more than 89% of its gross revenues from traffic fines and forfeitures. In other words, from theft.

 

And so, today's news appears positive...

 

(As Reuters reports),

State and local police in the United States will no longer be able to use federal laws to justify seizing property without evidence of a crime, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday.

 

The practice of local police taking property, including cash and cars, from people that they stop, and of handing it over to federal authorities, became common during the country's war on drugs in the 1980s.

 

Holder cited "safeguarding civil liberties" as a reason for the change in policy.

 

The order directs federal agencies who have collected property during such seizures to withdraw their participation, except if the items collected could endanger the public, as in the case of firearms.

 

Holder said the ban was the first step in a comprehensive review the Justice Department has launched of the program.

*  *  *

As WaPo adds,

Holder’s decision allows some 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.

 

A Justice official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the attorney general’s motivation, said Holder “also believes that the new policy will eliminate any possibility that the adoption process might unintentionally incentivize unnecessary stops and seizures.”

*  *  *

While it may be a little early to call the total end of 'civil asset forfeitures', it appears to have just become more difficult for American police forces to steal their citizens' cash and assets.

 

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Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:31 | 5672161 whotookmyalias
whotookmyalias's picture

I still don't trust him, but if this is true it's a least one good thing he did.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:33 | 5672165 Overfed
Overfed's picture

He must be tryin' to avoid his date with the guillotine.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:37 | 5672186 McMolotov
McMolotov's picture

"How the fuck are we supposed to pay for a cappuccino machine now?

—heard today at police departments across America

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:44 | 5672211 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Cappuccino machines are so 20th century. It's all about the MRAP w/ built-in Auto-Donut-Extrudamatron3000 that uses sophisticated sensors for real-time donut desirability detection and production.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:46 | 5672219 johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

I'll believe it when  I see proof of it in Realville.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:54 | 5672249 Richard Chesler
Richard Chesler's picture

I think what he means is that some pigs are more equal.

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:00 | 5672265 DOT
DOT's picture

You win!

That less than worthless AG, Holder, has just squeezed out locals from the continuing confiscation being done by the FEDs.

(it's too hard to share tyranny)

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:03 | 5672273 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

Sounds like Holder is sweetening us up before giving us the BIG screw aka bank bail ins.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:06 | 5672288 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

This is just going to save the cops from having to fill out the burdensome legal paperwork and allow them to quickly get down to the more important task of dividing the stolen loot equitably...

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:21 | 5672301 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Its a message to the cops that only the bankers can steal money and then they will send some to LEO.  Cant let  LEO get creative and find other revenue sources and be less reliant on the establishment.  Gotta keep the muscle in line.

Either that or all the corrupt crooks on Wall St or DC need a few weekends to move their loot to the Hamptons and then their Yachts in Sag Harbor for the long cruise to Tel Aviv to drop off the cash and gold.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:08 | 5672405 Stackers
Stackers's picture

Smoke and mirrors.

 

Now they cant use Federal C.A.F. regulations. They will just use Local and State C.A.F. regulations.

Until Congress passes a law making C.A.F. illegal ..... this is bread circuses bullshit

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:15 | 5672424 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Some states already have already made it illegal, which is why the popos have been using the feds.  They sieze the property and put it into the hands of, say, the DEA, the DEA fills out some paperwork and then kicks back a large chunk to the local leos.  They were just using the feds as a loophole.  

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:33 | 5672472 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

"Evidence of a crime" is still not a conviction of a crime.  When we nail Mr. Dimon - legally - I say take it all right down to the cuff links

A good step, now can we talk about the IRS?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 21:38 | 5672631 e_goldstein
e_goldstein's picture

<---trial

<---nailgun

Jamie Dimon's just desserts.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 21:57 | 5672691 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

State and local police in the United States will no longer be able to use federal laws to justify seizing property without evidence of a crime, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday.

Only feds can seize property without evidence of a crime.

Only Holders' boys can seize, not the local and State cops.  Those locals need to know their place.

That's what this joke is all about for those of you who don't get it.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:15 | 5672733 MontgomeryScott
MontgomeryScott's picture

Problem with the upvoter thing, Doc.

You expressed my thoughts exactly.

Obama promised a 'national security force' that is 'just as powerful, just as strong,  just as well-funded' as the military. HOLDER is Obama's BITCH (just like Obama is a bitch to Goldman, AIG, etcetera).

Short version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s

Longer version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEnNYN8sKbQ

WATCH as ANOTHER proposal for a NATIONAL POLICE FORCE is fielded by the corporate RNC boyses in D.C. (after all, Charlie Hebdo, and underwear bomber, and shoe bomber, and I.S.I.S. and Al-Qaida, and Arab Spring, and, wait for it, 'NINE ELEVEN'!).

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 23:01 | 5672842 nmewn
nmewn's picture

The "directive" was pretty clear:

"The order directs federal agencies who have collected property during such seizures to withdraw their participation, except if the items collected could endanger the public, as in the case of firearms."

In other words, it applies only to the feds and he still says "some" of your property can still be "collected" if its firearms (as an example), by the feds. And it could range to anything the feds deem "endangering the public".

I "direct" everyones attention back to the other recent ZH article to make my point:

Lessons For Winning Liberty In A World Of Statism

Specifically:

"Freedom advocate, Leonard E. Read, once warned of sinking in a sea of “buts.” I believe in freedom and self-responsibility, “but” we need some minimum government social “safety net.” I believe in the free market, “but” we need some limited regulation for the “public good.” I believe in free trade, “but” we should have some form of protectionism for “essential” industries and jobs. Before you know it, Read warned, the case for freedom has been submerged in an ocean of exceptions."

But...

Fuck you Holder, you fucking coward, Mexican narco's "collected" your firearms just as you planned.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 08:29 | 5673367 JRev
JRev's picture

Trial. The world needs to know what this vile piece of shit did in OKC, at the very least. Besides, I'd appreciate the irony, wouldn't you? ;)

OKC - The Noble Lie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2cK2tKN20

Y'know, when Thomas Paine was instigating Revolution in France, upon the conviction of King Louie XVI for high treason, he was asked what the King's punishment should be. "Doubtlessly, Mr. Paine will see the need to guillotine the old boy," they all must have thought. Paine said, quite to everyone's surprise, that a great moral crime would be committed to subject those born into monied aristocracy to death simply for being bred into a Monarchical system. His solution? Send Louie to America! He'd be penniless in a land where any talk smattering of Kings, Queens, Dukes, and Dutchesses would make you a laughingstock, he'd learn a thing or two about freedom, and would be forced to interact with the "Common People" he so loathed every single day for the rest of his life. A fitting punishment, if I do say so myself.

The Jacobins, however, took issue with Paine's suggestion, so much so that it wasn't long before the guillotine was turned toward Paine himself. One of, if not the greatest minds of the Enlightenment, barely escaped France with his head because some bloodthirsty Revolutionary zealots were too fucking busy satiating their desire for "revenge" instead of doing the much-needed work of rebuilding the fledgling Republic. Of establishing TRUE Justice and Liberty.

I often wonder how many of you out there are Robespierres and how many are Paines. Both sounded nearly identical in ideology... until the Shit Hit The Fan.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 01:29 | 5672956 boattrash
boattrash's picture

EV,

Sounds to me that the Feds. are positioning themselves to keep 100% of CAF.

With all the strife between John Q. Public and local/state cops lately, does anybody other than me think the Feds are drooling at the thought of being our ONLY police force?

Remember friends, NOTHING these bastards do is meant to help us in the long run, regardless of how good it may sound today.

Later, expect all the Fed alphabet soup agencies, to be your LEOs.

Are we all ready to have assclown TSA agents as our new Highwaymen?

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 10:31 | 5673513 weburke
weburke's picture

local cops were using .............................................. and collecting big drug money that was supposed to go to the cartels. Taxing the cartels. 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:15 | 5672304 Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai's picture

It's pure politics.

"We reward our friends, and punish our enemies."

The states that are most abusive regarding forfeitures are Republican strongholds (sadly). Obviously, Obama and Company are simply trying to financially weaken those states, as those states are creating all the new jobs and generating all the positive economic activity.

Since the Feds don't need the asset forfeiture money (they can print all they need), it doesn't hurt them one bit.

Holder is still a worthless cunt.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:30 | 5672338 sodbuster
sodbuster's picture

You guys miss the point- mafia bankster counsel Holder wants the state and local governments to stop seizing property. The fed wants to do the property seizures- not stand in line for scraps.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:56 | 5672387 Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai's picture

The Feds do not have a widespread national police presence...yet. Which means they don't have the manpower to do the seizures. State and local cops have easily 100x the manpower of the Federal three-letter agencies. That is the flaw in your logic.

Someone pointed out downthread that Holder is taking this step to cripple funding for state and local cops as a prequel to eventually nationalizing the police force.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:05 | 5672706 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

State and local cops have easily 100x the manpower of the Federal three-letter agencies.

State and Locals bendover backwards when the 3-letters show up.  When the FBI, ATF, DHS etc. show up, the local's job is to fetch coffee and paperwork for them.

With county sheriffs neutered, and the Zionist takeover using DHS federalizing everyone using the loss of pensions as a carrot on a stick, these cops will acquiesce.

Enter in George Soros and his Open Society fueling the fires between citizens and cops with media spectacles like Ferguson and Zimmerman, and Joe Sixpack will welcome federalized cops with open arms to restore order.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:23 | 5672749 MontgomeryScott
MontgomeryScott's picture

Like I said, problem with the upvote (as well as DOWNVOTE, because I tried it to find out) on YOUR ACCOUNT on ZERO HEDGE, Doctor Who.

You are stating the painfully obvious for those who have been watching and listening and LEARNING.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 01:17 | 5673118 Clashfan
Clashfan's picture

It happens to anyone who begins a post in italics. If  he types in one or two words of normal font first, before the italics, upvote problem disappears.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 06:21 | 5673350 Your guess is a...
Your guess is as good as mine's picture

No, YOU missed the point. The point is this is just all fiction, to take your eyes off the fact the uber-rich are holing up, oil has cratered, as has 'growth'. Before you know it your neighbors will be fighting you over not property, but food. Say onara.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:50 | 5672380 data_monkey
data_monkey's picture

This has got to be about ruining local PD's so the Feds can move in. The Feds are leading the charge with the people against the cops and now they're turning off the tap. The well is going dry. Hell, they've already got the equipment in place...

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 21:00 | 5672548 Government need...
Government needs you to pay taxes's picture

Holder just tryin' to get his DHS boys paid.  They need the new business line (asset forfeiture) to keep all those MRAPs on the roads.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:06 | 5672278 Pladizow
Pladizow's picture

100:1 odds nothing changes!

If I'm wrong, it will be for the worse!

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:22 | 5672299 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

Correct.

You are probably wrong.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:55 | 5672376 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

Eric Holder cannot dictate the law.

 

He can tell you what he intends to enforce. He can turn a "blind eye" to some very egregarious violations and has demonstrated that. Yes he can even demonstrate that which he intends to ignore.

 

He is way out of line attempting to dictate law. What is he going to do? Prosecute LEOs for following the law? Good luck. It is not going to happen. When he sues any Police Agency with a spurious and unsubstantiated lawsuit the judge will throw it out of court.

 

If it goes to the US Supreme Ct. then they will uphold the law as Constitutional. Or they will probably refuse to hear it as has been the case many times in the past.

 

That Civil Forfeiture Law was passed by a Democrat Congress and signed into Law by a Republican President...er...Ronald Reagan. (He was just so great, wasn't he? Please tell me that there is a difference between the political parties again. I need a good laugh.)

 

You can Downarrow this but it will not change Historical Fact. And I will laugh at your denial.

 

Congress and the Teleprompter would have to repeal that law.

 

The State and Local Community LEOs are laughing their asses off as they prepare to steal even more from you.

 

Holder's declaration has ensured that outcome..

 

And HOLDER'S DECLARATION IS TOOTHLESS as it has no legal authority from Congress.

 

He is attempting to appease the masses and quell the undercurrent of a horrific uprising.

 

The USA has DIED. THERE ARE NO POLITICAL SOLUTIONS.

 

ALL OF THE POLITICAL PLAYERS ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY AND AMERICA IS CORRUPT TO THE CORE. ALL OF THEM.

 

AS soon as you arrive at this realization then you will be free to act to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:08 | 5672713 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

That Civil Forfeiture Law was passed by a Democrat Congress and signed into Law by a Republican President...er...Ronald Reagan. (He was just so great, wasn't he? Please tell me that there is a difference between the political parties again. I need a good laugh.)

I upvoted you +1 on that comment.

If only the conned-servatives really knew about Ronnie, they wouldn't worship him so much.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 00:40 | 5673056 Overfed
Overfed's picture

Ronnie could have been one of the greats. After the Bush crime syndicate/CIA attempt on his life, self-preservation kinda took over.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:05 | 5672404 roddy6667
roddy6667's picture

Does the Extrudamatron3000 have curb feelers and Bluetooth? Ima gonna get me one.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:07 | 5672409 richiebaby
richiebaby's picture

That's why I'll keep my coffee can with cash buried, not in my rusted out 74 Buick Skylark with non working tailights and missing rear bumper

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:42 | 5672206 Greenskeeper_Carl
Greenskeeper_Carl's picture

I just posted this on antoher thread, but here goes again: It says without EVIDENCE of a crime, not CONVICTION of a crime. My reading of this is that as long as they say they have 'evidence' that you did anything they consider to be a 'crime', they can still steal your shit. And i don't have to tell any of yall how questionable or downright fraudulent that 'evidence' often is. That means this statement is completely meaningless, and was just made to placate the masses and make them think civil rights activists/libertarians actually won one over on the govt while, in reality, things go on as normal. Thats my interprettion of it, anyway.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:53 | 5672244 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Good reading Carl.  It also doesn't apply to actions under state or local laws, or to the Fed Goons.

  Maybe they want less competition?

I suspect an appellate court somewhere, was about to blow his ass out of the water on this.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:14 | 5672308 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

So they find a couple of Grand in your car, the LEO drops the joint he was smoking earlier on your carpet, and Voila, justifiable seizure of the money.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:20 | 5672315 ZerOhead
ZerOhead's picture

They are taking the car too...

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 00:00 | 5672976 boattrash
boattrash's picture

And 230 grains of lead too...

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 00:24 | 5673030 TheReplacement
TheReplacement's picture

45 ACP, good choice.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:40 | 5672361 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"I suspect an appellate court somewhere, was about to blow his ass out of the water on this."

And what Carl said.

Yeah, they will just begin to railroad folks more instead of giving them the "option" of being robbed and leaving, or being caged and robbed.

And since all the theft jurisdictions, towns, etc., are in hock to the Zionist banksters, and the Zionists control the "courts," you can bet your bottom dollar that a judge will put a stop to this limitation on revenue and funding right quick like.

Tyranny will march on until it is cutoff at the neck.

The banksters need to repay us.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:23 | 5672324 XitSam
XitSam's picture

In many of these seizures, money itself is evidence of a crime in the officer's opinion. "No one travels with that much cash unless they are a drug dealer," Officer Safety said.

This is a feel good measure for those that believe Holder could have a shard of good in him.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:40 | 5672353 Flying Wombat
Flying Wombat's picture

Spot-on, Carl. That was my first thought.  If this criminal was serious about ending unjust civil asset forteture, there would be legal protections put in place to guarnatee intereset payment on siezed cash (say, at the "prime rate" to make it real-world), compensation for lost use of cars set at 1/300th of the blue book value of the car for each week or month it was held until exoneration (odd, I know but something better could be dreamed-up yet still along the lines of making some real cost to law enforcement as a disincentive to make arrests without real "evidence" already in hand rather than the b.s. fishing trips that are ever more increasingly used), and other remedies to reverse what financial incentives remain with this so-called reform effort.

Pretty much everything this administration has done has been for show and was bogus.  Holder has zero credibility.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:43 | 5672212 zorba THE GREEK
zorba THE GREEK's picture

overfed...guillotine is too good for this shit stain, gasolene and a match would be more fitting.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:45 | 5672355 fauxhammer
fauxhammer's picture

Holder to members of law enforcement:

 

"The Criminal Elite is a big club...and YOU ain't in it"

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:58 | 5672264 polocko
polocko's picture

He let the banks loot everything already. Nothing left to seize when everyone is renting and leasing.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:28 | 5672333 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"He must be tryin' to avoid his date with the guillotine."

His appointment is written in ink, but the date is written in pencil.

The banksters need to repay us.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:34 | 5672171 localsavage
localsavage's picture

I keep waiting to see if this is an early April Fools joke.  Holder has been 100% POS

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:48 | 5672225 Rainman
Rainman's picture

Joke is Billary needs a shitload of illegal Mexican votes in '16

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:11 | 5672722 The9thDoctor
The9thDoctor's picture

Billary has Diebold.

If that doesn't work, there is always hanging chads and a Supreme Court decision.

It worked for her "brother-in-law" W.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 00:44 | 5673068 Overfed
Overfed's picture

There was a painful amount of stupid to be found in the comments section of that article. Yeesh. No wonder we are so fucked.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:44 | 5672178 ACP
ACP's picture

No, what he started was start a massive nationwide firearm confiscation.

There's no way all these jurisdictions will stop stealing our shit, they'll just focus on the only thing they can get now.

There's a specific purpose to his firearms exception - confiscation.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:36 | 5672182 joego1
joego1's picture

There is still time for more hope and change.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:37 | 5672185 zorba THE GREEK
zorba THE GREEK's picture

The best thing he could do is get hit by a meteorite. 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:40 | 5672196 Dre4dwolf
Dre4dwolf's picture

This story is a mind-fuck.

Something terrible is going to happen I feel a disturbance in the force.

 

Maybe this is a ramp up of sorts for some greater future strategy to take everything.

"Lets start talking about protecting property rights" this brings up the entire issue of "property rights and civil liberties" and provides the initial spark to start legislating around the topic.

 

I just dont trust it, I bet in a month they will start passing some law that not only does not make asset forfeiture illegal, but actually makes it mandatory somehow.

 

Remember always when govt talks:

Peace = War

Liberty = Despotism

Security = Slavery

Property =  shit you rent from govt

Rights = "an ever shrinking list of things you can do legally"

Rich = Poor

Poor = Rich

 

Govt speaks upside down.

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:54 | 5672247 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

>Something terrible is going to happen I feel a disturbance in the force.

Had a vision of a nuclear weapon going off to the south of me, and sure enough, I grabbed a map to see what possible targets lay in that direction. Sure enough, McConnell AFB... and it certainly counts as a strategic target. Big fireball, too, probably enough to wipe Wichita off the map...

Standard Disclaimer: This happened to me once before, I was driving east heading for the Dumbarton Bridge, and I flashed on four columns of smoke rising in the east. (9/11? I don't remember the time frame 3 to 6 months?)... I don't like to tell people this because it creeps me out to this day.

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:04 | 5672275 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Yeah I live in rural S Florida and there was a long persistent rumbling boom this afternoon that rattled the doors.  Sounded like WW3 starting.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:28 | 5672332 Peak Finance
Peak Finance's picture

Yea I live in South Florida in the glades. 

The military thinks "no one lives here" so they do excerises over the glades all of the time. Sometimes I count 20+ jets going overhead late at night during their drills. 

Also. they used to de-orbit the shuttle over the glades when they landed it on this side. Once it came in the entire place would shake! I guess it was a huge sonic boom, Was fucking awesome! Really miss that, you appretiate the power of those ships when they are up-close and personal. 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:09 | 5672289 Slurm
Slurm's picture

This is a mindfuck.

Something is up for sure.

 

What's next?

 

Property Tax is theft.

Sales Tax is theft.

Income Tax is theft.

 

TAX, FEES, by any other name is theft.

 

Or do the feds think they'd be able to corner the market on robbing us?

Holder: ATTN STATES, COUNTIES, LOCAL AGENTS OF THE STATE... GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR MONEY..

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:29 | 5672330 Dead Man Walking
Dead Man Walking's picture

Holder wants first dibs on any confiscations.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:43 | 5672364 Boomberg
Boomberg's picture

Everybody don't overthink this. There is no sinister plot. It simply means now law enforcement can take what they want and don't need a law to justify it. 

Do you see any proposal for a law to prevent and punish property seizures, or a proposal to enforce existing laws that are supposed to prevent it?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:46 | 5672217 Bloppy
Bloppy's picture

Don't trust him as far as you can throw him. Sounds too good to be true.

 

Hapless GOP schedules three presidential debates on loser network CNN:

http://tinyurl.com/ox6zdgp


Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:45 | 5672220 City_Of_Champyinz
City_Of_Champyinz's picture

The only good thing he has ever done, other than this he is a corrupt criminal liar that should be in prison for knowingly allowing hundreds of rifles to cross into Mexico with absolutely no way to track them.  That and he is a professional racist idiot...

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:58 | 5672257 ShrNfr
ShrNfr's picture

He is trying to duck the questioning of the woman who is being presented as his successor. She used it heavily and heavy handedly in Brooklyn.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:16 | 5672310 rubiconsolutions
rubiconsolutions's picture

"Did stealing from Americans just stop?"

 

Call me when the 16th amendment and the federal re-serf act is repealed.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:11 | 5672416 doctor10
doctor10's picture

His Royal Baminess must just be about to sign the next Royal Edict Federalizing the police across America.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:35 | 5672483 garypaul
garypaul's picture

"State and local police in the United States will no longer be able to use federal laws to justify seizing property without evidence of a crime."

So they'll get federal agents to do it?

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:50 | 5672517 midtowng
midtowng's picture

He did a good thing, but only 3% of asset forfeitures happen under federal law. Police can still do it under state laws.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 07:43 | 5673370 Pumpkin
Pumpkin's picture

My only guess here is he is about to get a bunch of his shit seized.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:35 | 5672168 Peak Finance
Peak Finance's picture

After six year this fucking useless shit decided to do something decent????

 

NOT BUYING IT

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:40 | 5672199 zorba THE GREEK
zorba THE GREEK's picture

i'm with you peak. This guy is a total piece of crap.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:35 | 5672170 snodgrass
snodgrass's picture

Probably only applies to blacks. Stealing from whitey is a mitzvah.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:35 | 5672173 ChargingHandle
ChargingHandle's picture

Thank you. So sensible I assumed it would never happen. 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:34 | 5672175 epicurious
epicurious's picture

WOW as far as I am concerned this is the first and most positive event coming out of this administration.  Write them and say thanks.  They need encouragement!

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:36 | 5672176 Hitlery_4_Dictator
Hitlery_4_Dictator's picture

You guys don't see? Now the feds have a monopoly...they way they see it the local cops were sealing from them! I still see it as positive...not a fan of cops trust me

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:36 | 5672179 buzklown
buzklown's picture

Maybe he's getting ready to move his cash.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:36 | 5672183 DIgnified
DIgnified's picture

If you like your money you can keep your money?

 

I think I've heard this somewhere before. 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:40 | 5672184 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Anyone that has anything of significant value has already procured it to a reliable fiduciary.

 Holder is just playing the "Nice Cop" role. That prick wouldn't apologize for starving his Grandmother.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:37 | 5672187 ted41776
ted41776's picture

oh, i get it! he made a funny! it's like when they called OScamCare the "Affordable" "Healthcare" act...

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:38 | 5672188 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

Is there anything left to steal/forfeit?

Or did some of the big boys realise that their time was approaching?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:41 | 5672191 Duc888
Duc888's picture

 

 

No.  The States and cities and towns can still play this shit game.  They can just write their own laws to continue these policies.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:54 | 5672246 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

Moar balkanization. Divide and stomp

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:06 | 5672287 seek
seek's picture

They can, but a lot of these forfeitures were driven by federal funds and/or matching funds. Plus the states can't write laws that are already subject to federal pre-emption, so if they carry through with this, it really will fuck up the state/city/town games.

The other peice of the puzzle is there's some evidence that the states/local PDs were getting tips from the Feds (DHS, DEA, etc) likely using illegal wiretaps and/or things like StingRays to target and ID people to steal from. Without that guidance the ratio of claims to arrests/contacts is going to plunge and that opens a whole 'nother level of legal exposure to the police agencies.

The game is still rigged, make no doubt about it, but this move likely is the Feds fucking over police at the state/local level because the con game was getting too much exposure.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:20 | 5672318 Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai's picture

Bingo. Seek, see my post above.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:39 | 5672198 The Proletariat
The Proletariat's picture

Yeah....um....right.  This sounds completely believable.  Signed, we won the war in EyeRack, You can keep your Doctor, Guantanamo Bay is closed, and one million etc's....

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:42 | 5672201 Duc888
Duc888's picture

 

 

 

“With this new policy, effective immediately, the Justice Department is taking an important step to prohibit federal agency adoptions of state and local seizures, except for public safety reasons,” Holder said in a statement.

Holder’s decision allows some 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."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/holder-ends-seized-asset-sh...

 

 

Same shit, different shitbags.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:43 | 5672207 oooBooo
oooBooo's picture

Firearms and child porn confiscations set to increase dramatically.

 

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:49 | 5672375 WillyGroper
WillyGroper's picture

Everywhere except where the true criminals reside.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:48 | 5672214 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Finally some good news for individual rights and freedoms in the land of the free.  But after more than $2.5 billion in cash stolen from over 63,000 motorists that we know off.  Untold billions stolen by your friendly police in many other ways.

But at least that has ended.  Time to decriminalize small amount of drugs and cut the largest prison population on the planet in half at least - 740 prisoners per 100,000 in the land of the free compared to about 50 in Japan and Sweden and 30 in India.

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:46 | 5672216 Sanity Bear
Sanity Bear's picture

They'll just do it anyway - they weren't doing it to enforce the law in the first place. If necessary they'll trump up some charges, plant weapons and/or drugs.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:45 | 5672221 Againstthelie
Againstthelie's picture

Tylers,

if that is true, then I am quite sure, that your articles contributed to that! Hats off.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:53 | 5672223 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Oh don't be silly.  Didn't you know that posession of more than $1000 cash is a crime?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:48 | 5672229 czarangelus
czarangelus's picture

The po-po and their union mafia ain't gonna like this.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:49 | 5672233 samsara
samsara's picture

About Fucking time.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:41 | 5672358 YHC-FTSE
YHC-FTSE's picture

I'm just surprised everyone let this go on for so long. The apathy was deafening.

The real robberies are done with lawyers, paper and procedures, not at the point of a gun.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:59 | 5672392 seek
seek's picture

This was pre-emptive. I honestly didn't see any apathy. I saw a lot of suppression of the stories about it, but it was getting so far out of hand that mainstream news literally couldn't avoid the stories anymore, and what was happening was so far over the line that even rubber-stamp courts were getting nervous about it. Far from apathy, lately I've seen a groundwell of opposition that was about to manifest itself with referendums and legislative reform, and then it's out of the hands of criminals like Holder. This way they pretend they've done something, let the heat die off, and maybe focus on higher risk/reward ratio busts instead of nailing people out buying used cars.

What I hope for (and will be disappointed by, no doubt) is that the legistlative and referendum side continues and gets the law changed so this pre-emptive move is moot.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 12:50 | 5673865 PoliticalRefuge...
PoliticalRefugeefromCalif.'s picture

I think you are right fellow tax donkey, there was pressure building to address the issue- http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397661

-and the issue was beginning to get traction, this action blunts the outcry yet still leaves the mechanics in place for legalized theft.

I sense a move to nationalize LE in the winds, local pensions are unsupportable so that could be the carrot they use to offer to take those pensions off local municipalities and States-

.."not everyone who responds to the rabbit's cry are coming to help"..

First you create the crisis- then you offer a cure for that very crisis.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:50 | 5672234 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 I thought Roberto Gonzalez was a "white wash". ( Bush administration) 

  Holder feels entitled because of his guilt... His affirmative action guilt.

 I don't care if you're a "Martian" covered in green spots AG.  You have a responsibility to be unbiased and open minded(reasonable). 

  Holder is just reaching out for MOAR information.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:50 | 5672235 Tipo anónimo
Tipo anónimo's picture

My bet is that is the prelude to the announcement that all property belongs to the State.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:52 | 5672237 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

You are property

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:06 | 5672408 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

Maybe you are. But I am not.

 

They may want you to believe that you are property. You may be registered as such.

 

I am a free man, sovereign. I vacate no rights and choose to exercise all of them.

 

Do not repeat their propaganda.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:24 | 5672447 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

  Verify before you reply Tom.

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Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:00 | 5672694 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

He will learn.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 01:11 | 5673114 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

You will.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:56 | 5672487 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

You consented to this? What are ya, some kinda freak?

Before 1913 the currency was based on gold and silver. After 1913 the currency is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. That means our work, our property, our sacrifices. Thats the point when we officially became property. I wasn't there. Listen to Elizabeth Warren. That monster promises to spend all men directly. Thats how she got selected.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 21:59 | 5672685 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

I am well aware of the History. But I consented to nothing. I do not care about official proclamations.

 

I cannot care less what the Government and the Federal Bank believes. In fact I ACTIVELY REJECT IT..

 

I currently use Gold and Silver to bank and to transact. SO YOU CAN TOO. And I do that living within the borders of the United States. I will also use Fiat Currency when necessary. So it is just an extra bartering step.

 

I cannot care less about legal tenders or extralegal tenders. Bartering Gold and Silver is NOT CRIMINAL...yet. (Note that I used the term "Extralegal"...outside of the legal system.)

 

I declare Freedom and Liberty. What do you declare? Enslavement?

 

When you declare that you are enslaved then that will be your lot.

 

Alternatively you can opt out. You can divorce yourself from your bondage.

 

We are arguing the same point. I am telling you to modify your thinking. Freedom and Liberty begin in your own mind and your words reveal that which you believe.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 01:20 | 5673117 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

They didn't ask you. They took it from your grandparents, and brainwashed your parents to Ozzie and Harriet, and you to think you're different. No, you're not. You can't hide in, I don't know, Elohim City? Their values are not our values. They don't care about us.

They are coming.

They are coming.

They are coming.

Childhood's End

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 14:37 | 5674160 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

 

you're right, TT.

"Maybe you are. But I am not."

Your official designation is 'chattel'.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:19 | 5672432 css1971
css1971's picture

Where does the power of the president, the courts and the congress come from?

How do they get the power?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:29 | 5672469 Equality 7-25-1
Equality 7-25-1's picture

They seize it. At gunpoint.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:04 | 5672701 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

"A priori, Watson.  As simple as that."

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:52 | 5672242 q99x2
q99x2's picture

My bitcoin is in my head and they don't want it.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:56 | 5672254 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

And it's gone from over $1000 to $200 in your head?  Or is a bitcoin always firmly always a bitcoin?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:56 | 5672250 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

nothing good comes from that sack of shit

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:56 | 5672251 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

Well make sure all the 18" biceped steroidal 20yo punks in a blue uniform get this word fast before they arrest and ruin someone elses life over idiotic bullshit.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:56 | 5672256 Motorhead
Motorhead's picture

WTF?  You mean I might have to suddenly start liking this Eric Holder dude?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 21:19 | 5672590 Borrow Owl
Borrow Owl's picture

Only if you're gullible enough to buy into the bullshit.

Sat, 01/17/2015 - 08:49 | 5673412 Motorhead
Motorhead's picture

And only if people are gullible enough to not get the sarcasm.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:57 | 5672259 Surging Chaos
Surging Chaos's picture

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn or two.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 18:58 | 5672262 Funny Money
Funny Money's picture

What's the catch?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:00 | 5672266 aliki
aliki's picture

why steal peoples stock and bonds when they can just raise taxes on dividends and interest? keep the gravy flowing nice and steady rather than 1 massive dump that they'd blow thru in a year? this is their form of austerity. they want alimony payments for life, not a 1-time settlement - they'll just raise the amount in %-terms and keep acting like toll-collectors.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:00 | 5672270 seek
seek's picture

It was either back off or have this ability taken away legislatively. They're giving up on fucking the little fish so they can keep doing multi-million dollar seizures of big fish.

He does it this way, and he (and the executive branch) are in control of how it's used. They do nothing and the local police will get the whole mess shut down and/or thrown out of court.

Runner-up explanation: it was pretty fucking obvious to me they were using DHS Fusion centers and illegal witetaps to select people to be stopped. They sure as shit don't want that hitting the papers, and there's already been enough slipups to figure out it was happening, it only takes one slip big enough to force discovery to likely overturn thousands of cases and millions if not billions in seized funds. They took away the cookie jar before anyone could get caught with their hands in it.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:20 | 5672320 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

 Great comments as usual. You'ld make a great public policy maker. {honest}

  I realized in 2 nanoseconds public service wasn't your intention. Honest people have values and share ideas. ;-)

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:56 | 5672386 WillyGroper
WillyGroper's picture

Ditto YC.

Might it also have something to do with the cops getting shot & the susequent slow down of the revenue generators?

Blowback's a bitch.

Praetorian guards getting restless and itchy.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:51 | 5672384 Rusty Shorts
Rusty Shorts's picture

Excellent post!, apparently these new $100 dollar bills are easily detectable from a distance.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:03 | 5672277 gnomon
gnomon's picture

It's all about nationalizing the police forces.  If the police can fund themselves through civil asset forfeiture, then the Feds can not control them.

As the States go broke the Feds want to be there with the purse-strings.  So as usual with this regime it is about accruing power.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:22 | 5672323 Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai's picture

Solid point.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:05 | 5672282 Roanman
Roanman's picture

What's more ridiculous than the dumbass piece of shit taking so long to finally put a stop to this practice, is the fact that it was ever put into place in the first place.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:07 | 5672286 Five8Charlie
Five8Charlie's picture

You want me to be glad that a stupid rule and its stupid enforcement by state thugs is being rolled back? Why were they doing something so completely illegal in the first place? No - no fucking points for this one, Holder, you Jackass.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:00 | 5672397 css1971
css1971's picture

I frankly don't understand how this has never been challenged and thrown out as unconstitutional. Why arent they going to prison?

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:09 | 5672293 Monty Burns
Monty Burns's picture

Holder will move against Civil Asset Forfeiture   only if he believes 'my people' are losing out.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:12 | 5672302 kenny500c
kenny500c's picture

The po po can still use state laws to confiscate your property so this will have little or no effect.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:13 | 5672306 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Some other stuff coming out about the NWO backing off are making the news. I think they are in trouble with the rise of opposition in the EU and aren't prepared to fight against their nation-states at this time. The people have turned against them in the US and the military is not very supportive either.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:15 | 5672307 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"Did "Stealing From Americans" Just Stop? AG Holder Moves To End Civil Asset Forfeiture"

I hope so, but unfortunately history informs that treason only ends at the guillotines or equivalent.

The banksters need to repay us.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:19 | 5672316 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

Holder and the Obamanation getting something right????

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:05 | 5672407 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

"Holder and the Obamanation getting something right????"

I admire your enthusiasm, and optimism, however, remember: "They are ALWAYS lying, even when they are speaking the truth." And, "It is ALWAYS about money, power, and division."

I.e. They always lie, and only speak the truth when they have found a way to monetize it, convert it to more power for themselves, or divide the people.

The banksters need to repay us.

 

That governmnet IS a lie, a syndicate of theft and violence, they must ALWAYS be lying to cover their thefts and violence. That is why governments are so universally preoccupied with the speech, thought, and spying on their victims, the people.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:20 | 5672319 drendebe10
drendebe10's picture

Fat frackin chance...  I believe this as about as much as the liar in chief fudgepacker is a U.S. born citizen.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:24 | 5672322 silverer
silverer's picture

Wow!  Big points for you Erik.  Good for you.  This surely will buy some positive levels for you in Dante's Inferno.  Better late than never!  Just make it real with no BS.  Thanks!

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:25 | 5672325 Disc Jockey
Disc Jockey's picture

"Gee thanks for not raping me"...said nobody ever.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:27 | 5672327 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

The only problem with any change in the rules, is that between now and the actual change the police will do their best to confiscate anything they can get their hands on.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:29 | 5672331 Clowns on Acid
Clowns on Acid's picture

Someone must have threatened Holder... he does only have 2 years left and with all his BS will be very vulnerab;e when he gets out of office.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:29 | 5672334 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

Now it's the banks turn @ confiscation.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:32 | 5672343 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Does this, does this mean... He is only a 99% son of a bitch and too cowardly for an honest discussion of race of course it does.. Red diaper baby gun runner is your legacy.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 20:13 | 5672345 css1971
css1971's picture

Um. Isn't it illegal to just take stuff?

"The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause."

I mean by that. The politicians, officials, judges and police officers all promise to uphold the constitution and the bill of rights. Their oath is a verbal contract. It's the only thing which gives them legitimacy. So when they enact a law which subverts fundamental clauses of the constitution, isn't that treason? And when they enforce such a law, isn't it illegitimate, making them no better than organised criminals?

Just the way it looks to me.

 

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:35 | 5672348 loveyajimbo
loveyajimbo's picture

Nothing this craven, criminal, traitor maggot can do... he is still a POS.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:40 | 5672359 FieldingMellish
FieldingMellish's picture

This can only mean they have something bigger planned.

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 19:57 | 5672388 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

During a discussion with a lawyer friend of mine recently, not from AK, AR, and Glock, I mentioned utilizing the DC US', and states', laws against them by filing suits, etc. Not with the expectation of winning, but as a way to awaken more people, and gum up the works. Later, while discussing "civil forfeitures," i.e. Article 3, Section 3 treasonous theft, he mentioned the using of the RICO (Racketeering and Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act) statutes against them.

He said that if he were ever treasonously robbed by way of "civil forfeiture,", he would bring numerous RICO suits, and charges, against all involved, from the treasonous thug, "all the way up."

For those reading this that may become victims of the empire's treason, and some of you will, remeber: "The best defense, is a great offense."

The banksters need to repay us.

 

Now neither of us agrees with the Constitutionality of RICO, but what better than to use their criminal laws of plunder against them?!

Fri, 01/16/2015 - 22:11 | 5672721 effendi
effendi's picture

The problem with bringing lawsuits (RICO etc) is you are not only having to do it in their territory (the courts) you will also be required to pay hundreds of thousands (or millions) to fund the lawsuits. Meanwhile they will take steps to sieze or neuter your assets and income earning ability so you won't be able to properly fund your case.

They will also come at you from a hundred different ways (both legal and illegal). Start with a full IRS audit (every year), have your employers and/or clients leaned on (a word in their ear or a tax audit) and your family and friends harrassed (they get pinged for every minor traffic violation, they get questioned at work/school about allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and other embarrassing but baseless claims).

If need be they will go the illegal route. Kiddie porn planted on your office computer, drugs planted in your kids car, daughter assaulted on her way home from school. If that doesn't work then there is always Arkancide (hot tubs, nail guns, falling from a balcony).

With all the millions of corrupt acts over decades and hundreds of thousands of lawyers then don't you think that by now a RICO suit would have been won against the bastards if it was in any way feasable?

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