Subpoenas rescinded for antiwar activists raided by FBI

[Hannah Bell]

Federal investigators have rescinded grand jury subpoenas issued to the 14 antiwar activists whose homes and offices the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided on September 24 in Minneapolis and Chicago.

Whether or not the cancellation of the subpoenas signals that the government is dropping its case is not yet clear.

All of the activists―members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and various antiwar and international solidarity groups―had earlier announced publicly their decision to refuse compliance with the grand jury subpoenas, most of which were issued for hearings on October 5 and October 12. This decision potentially put them in contempt of court and subject to possible arrest.

According to the Twin Cities newspaper City Pages, the raid victims also made clear to the Justice Department, through their attorneys, that even had they attended the grand jury they would have invoked their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

The dropping of the current subpoenas therefore might presage the government issuing grand jury immunity to the 14. If they are assigned immunity and again subpoenaed, their responses to the grand jury cannot be used against them. However, if they again refuse to testify, they can be held in contempt of court and imprisoned for the life of the grand jury, which could be many months.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/oct2010/raid-o14.shtml

[villager]

Wow -- unrecced!? How many Agent Mikes are here to do that?

More than one realized, apparently...

[villager]

1. DU's software thought I should say that twice...

Does that mean I get an extra "rec" to counteract the pro-FBI contingent?

[Rex]

2. Well this is all looking like a fishing expedition.

Wonder if we will ever find out what the FBI was after?

[DCKit]

6. Federal Bureau of Intimidation

A fishing expedition in order to attempt to justify the bloated bureaucracy of Fatherland Security.

There are only a handful of Al Qaeda in the world, so they're casting a wider net to ensure some job security.

Hint to the FBI: The terrorists are hiding (in plain sight) in offices on Wall St. as well as bank and other corporate headquarters all over the country. Do your jobs and begin investigatin' the takedown of the U.S. economy.

[redirish28]

3. But the damand has already been done. Peoples reps have been dragged

in the mud not to mention FBI now has all their private infomation.


If I had been treated as such and when the FBI returned my items I'd go over them VERY carefully.

[Starry Messenger]

4. Well it certainly sent out a message.

I don't know if that was the intention, but relationships have been clarified I think. Dirty commies better watch themselves, etc.

[old mark]

5. Yeah - all them evil leftists better watch their step during this administration...nt