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Congress is finally working to defund civil asset forfeiture
The Hill ^ | 09/02/2017 | By Jason Pye

Posted on 09/03/2017 8:40:12 AM PDT by Rusty0604

Next week, the House of Representatives will consider an appropriations bill,.... Some members, Republican and Democratic alike, have submitted amendment to the bill that would defund the directive issued by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to ramp up the use of civil asset forfeiture.

Sessions is a vocal advocate of civil asset forfeiture, the process by which local law enforcement can permanently seize property or money that is suspected to have a connection to a crime.

During an April 2015 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, then-Sen. Sessions was less than sympathetic toward a witness, Russ Caswell, whose hotel was wrongly seized when local law enforcement claimed that it had facilitated illicit activity.

Sessions read from letters from law enforcement officials in support of forfeiture while addressing Caswell and defending the pernicious practice, which is often abused. He downplayed the instances in which the legitimately owned property of innocent people — who were never arrested, charged or convicted of any wrongdoing — was seized by law enforcement, who, in most states and at the federal level, can keep all or part of the proceeds from forfeiture.

Sessions was criticized for the directive. “Back in May I encouraged the Department of Justice to review its policies on civil asset forfeiture in light of increasing indications from the Supreme Court that this practice is constitutionally suspect,” said Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). “Instead of revising forfeiture practices in a manner to better protect Americans’ due process rights, the DOJ seems determined to lose in court before it changes its policies...”

Similarly, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted that adoptive seizures “have created perverse incentives in the past that jeopardized the rights of law abiding citizens.”

Thankfully, four amendments have been submitted to the House Rules Committee for consideration that would defund Sessions’ directive.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: assetforfeiture; civilforfeiture; congress
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1 posted on 09/03/2017 8:40:12 AM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

“... defund the directive issued by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to ramp up the use of civil asset forfeiture”

What is this ... I am sure I saw an article a few weeks ago saying that Sessions was working to eliminate CAF ... ???


2 posted on 09/03/2017 8:46:43 AM PDT by ByteMercenary (Healthcare Insurance is *NOT* a Constitutional right.)
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To: Rusty0604

Unfortunately, it seems that CAF is self funding.


3 posted on 09/03/2017 8:48:44 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Rusty0604

They are always “working on” things, but they deliver very little.

They don’t get credit with me until they DO it.


4 posted on 09/03/2017 8:50:14 AM PDT by CodeToad (Victorious warriors WIN first, then go to war! Go TRUMP!!!)
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To: Rusty0604

If the activist courts were truly following the Constitution, civil asset forfeiture prior to trial and conviction, would have been declared unconstitutional long ago.


5 posted on 09/03/2017 8:50:23 AM PDT by Soul of the South (The past is gone and cannot be changed. Tomorrow can be a better day if we work on it.)
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To: Rusty0604

“Sessions is a vocal advocate of civil asset forfeiture, the process by which local law enforcement can permanently seize property or money that is suspected to have a connection to a crime.”

Another reason to get rid of this worthless little pr*ck!


6 posted on 09/03/2017 8:52:42 AM PDT by vette6387
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To: Soul of the South

The War on Drugs sure worked out well for the American people. About as well as the 86 amnesty.


7 posted on 09/03/2017 8:54:05 AM PDT by jpsb (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
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To: ByteMercenary
What is this ... I am sure I saw an article a few weeks ago saying that Sessions was working to eliminate CAF ... ???

Quite the opposite unfortunately.

8 posted on 09/03/2017 8:54:56 AM PDT by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: ByteMercenary

No, he’s all for it.


9 posted on 09/03/2017 8:55:34 AM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604; All

The fact that Sessions enabled and advocated increased asset forfeiture is proof he is an enemy of the American People.


10 posted on 09/03/2017 8:56:31 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Soul of the South

Yes, it will have to go to SCOTUS.


11 posted on 09/03/2017 8:56:31 AM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

CAF is theft by force of arms. And at least the Mafia had a code of ethics — government not does not. CAF needs to be abolished now!


12 posted on 09/03/2017 8:57:04 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicans are not born, they're excreted." -- Marcus Tillius Cicero)
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To: CodeToad

“They are always “working on” things, but they deliver very little.”

I agree 100%. My Congresswoman tells me the legislative process is complex and lengthy.

Let’s see, 1 hour to draft a bill ending civil asset forfeiture. One day to review it in committee, make revisions if necessary, and send it to the Speaker to schedule a floor vote. Thirty minutes to hold a floor vote and pass it on to the Senate. One day (or less) for the Senate committee to review it and send to leadership for a floor vote. Thirty minutes for the vote. Bill passed and sent to the President for signature. Presidential signing ceremony 5 minutes. Mission accomplished. Less than 1 week if you really want to get something done.

Conclusions:
1) They don’t want to get something accomplished. Witness repeal of Obamacare which could have been accomplished by simply passing again a bill they had already passed and Obama had vetoed.
2) If they truly can’t work with speed, the institution is incapable of governance in the 21st century and needs to be completely overhauled.
3) The leadership isn’t leading.


13 posted on 09/03/2017 8:57:17 AM PDT by Soul of the South (The past is gone and cannot be changed. Tomorrow can be a better day if we work on it.)
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To: Soul of the South

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!


14 posted on 09/03/2017 8:57:38 AM PDT by I am Richard Brandon
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To: Rusty0604
civil asset forfeiture, the process by which local law enforcement can permanently seize property or money that is suspected to have a connection to a crime

. The ole "connection to crime" usually doesn't show up in real practice. They seize at will in most cases.

15 posted on 09/03/2017 9:03:47 AM PDT by umgud
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To: Rusty0604
civil asset forfeiture, the process by which local law enforcement can permanently seize property or money that is suspected to have a connection to a crime

. The ole "connection to crime" usually doesn't show up in real practice. They seize at will in most cases.

16 posted on 09/03/2017 9:03:47 AM PDT by umgud
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To: Rusty0604

“Sessions is a vocal advocate of civil asset forfeiture”

He is a member of our irredeemably corrupt and depraved political class. Of course he favors theft by government abuse.


17 posted on 09/03/2017 9:04:16 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: Rusty0604

So the individual states will just ramp up their efforts.


18 posted on 09/03/2017 9:07:00 AM PDT by ex91B10
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To: Soul of the South

The only reason the legislative process is complex and lengthy is because congress wants it that way. I bet you they can sure come up with legislation to save the dreamers in less than a week. Because screwing the American citizens is one thing they can all agree on.


19 posted on 09/03/2017 9:10:06 AM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

Some members, Republican and Democratic alike, have submitted amendment to the bill that would defund the directive.

Cartel makes deal with Republican and Democratic bribees.


20 posted on 09/03/2017 9:13:43 AM PDT by Vaduz (women and children to be impacted the most.)
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