[Ken H]

Asset forfeiture laws have been in force against citizens for years now. If those laws can pass muster with the courts, then what's going to stop this asset seizure?

[Tenega]

"Asset forfeiture laws have been in force against citizens for years now. If those laws can pass muster with the courts, then what's going to stop this asset seizure?"

Quite correct. The president has all the legal firepower he needs to grab BP assets. All it would take would be for the DOJ to seek an emergency court hearing, present evidence of a crime committed (ample in this case) and seek appointment of a federal receiver over selected BP assets. For starters: all BP's federal offshore leases. In which case, BP's best defense would be to pre-emptively file for Chapter 11 protection.

[Don Corleone]

Asset forfeiture laws have been in force against citizens for years now. If those laws can pass muster with the courts, then what's going to stop this asset seizure?

The "Laws" must be invoked and applied in a court decision for the specific case in question not declared in force in a rambling diatribe by a dictatorial wannabe.