This Ortiz character is also the person who took over the prosecution of Aaron Swartz, the hacktivist guy who killed himself and set off the “Anonymous” hack of the DOJ yesterday.
Apparently, the state of Massachusetts was going to let the guy off with a stern warning. Before they could, Ms. Ortiz stepped in and decided to prosecute Swartz and “make an example” of him.
This fed sure seems like she’s let the power go to her head.
Sadly as a defense attorney I can say that the system only has the appearance of fairness. In reality the Feds can squash pretty much anyone at any time for any reason.
This country is under such a vast covering of laws and regulation that all the government has to do is pick out the target then it can decide which laws were “broken”.
This is true from the top of the federal government right down to the local level.
If you don’t believe me just go sit and watch an intersection in town for a few hours. See how many people actually come to a legally complete stop before going right on red or passing a stop sign.
The percentage of those that do will be well below 10%.
But watch which ones the COPS pull over.
It really comes down to the quality of the people responsible for enforcing the laws. If they are good and honorable then we don’t have to fear bad laws. If they are evil, then no law will protect you from their corruption.
The law is set up to make us all criminals if the government chooses.
‘Weighing their options’....statists can’t take a loss in fair (or unfair) fight.
Interesting.
This same Federal Persecutrix gets mentioned here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2982288/posts
Thus begins the process of making an example of the little guy in order to terrorize the larger community, as the federal government walks the path to absolute power.
The Drug WAR isn’t a friendly thing? Who knew?
That’s why I love the Institute for Justice! They truly fight for the little guy against big government. They helped this motel owner, and they are helping people all over the country who are being squashed by overbearing bureaucrats and ridiculous regulations.