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How Government Stifled Reason's Free Speech
reason.com ^ | 6/19/2015 | Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch

Posted on 06/19/2015 4:01:27 PM PDT by Forgotten Amendments

For the past two weeks, Reason, a magazine dedicated to "Free Minds and Free Markets," has been barred by an order from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from speaking publicly about a grand jury subpoena that court sent to Reason.com.

The subpoena demanded the records of six people who left hyperbolic comments at the website about the federal judge who oversaw the controversial conviction of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. Shortly after the subpoena was issued, the government issued a gag order prohibiting Reason not only from discussing the matter but even acknowledging the existence of the subpoena or the gag order itself. As a wide variety of media outlets have noted, such actions on the part of the government are not only fundamentally misguided and misdirected, they have a tangible chilling effect on free expression by commenters and publications alike.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; bitcoin; carlforce; forrest; freedomofspeech; gagorder; katherinebforrest; katherineforrest; libertarian; newyork; reason; rossulbricht; sdny; seanbridges; shawnbridges; silkroad; silkroadtaskforce; ulbricht
The subpoena was covered on FR when it happened. But the gag order was only confirmed today.

If you haven't followed, one of the "threats" was "I hope there is a special place in Hell for this judge."

This should be terrifying to all Americans, especially FReepers. But, all we'll hear about is Confederate flags, Caitlyn, and whatever hack is running to be our next dictator.

1 posted on 06/19/2015 4:01:27 PM PDT by Forgotten Amendments
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To: Forgotten Amendments

This is chilling.


2 posted on 06/19/2015 4:13:45 PM PDT by rikkir (Anyone still believe the 8/08 Atlantic cover wasn't 100% accurate?)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

The King’s Star Chamber returns.


3 posted on 06/19/2015 4:21:05 PM PDT by razorback-bert (Due to the high price of ammo, no warning shot will be fired.)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

The judge is a totalitarian dictatorial ass.

I love the 1st Amendment.

When someone says “You can’t say that!”, I make sure I do.


4 posted on 06/19/2015 4:35:32 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Live off the fat of anyone who is stupid enough to work. It's the American Way.)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

I hope there is a special place in Hell for this judge.


5 posted on 06/19/2015 4:37:02 PM PDT by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

If extending the gag order was an unshameful act, then WHY was the act to remain secret..?

Time and time again as subjects we hear, “If you’re not doing anything wrong, then you won’t mind questions...”

Yet they would have us believe not only that they’re acting honorably but that it’s fine to insist on NO QUESTIONS.

I find those two incongruent.


6 posted on 06/19/2015 4:43:52 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: Forgotten Amendments

They shut down Free Dominion for less, and with less.


7 posted on 06/19/2015 5:07:41 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Its the Sixties all over again, but with crappy music...)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

if there was a gag order, it was circumvented somehow.

otherwise, this info would not have gotten out.

irregardless of when the gag order came to light.


8 posted on 06/19/2015 5:18:16 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: Forgotten Amendments

Hell is too good for the corruptocrats in DC. And they probably think that is a compliment....


9 posted on 06/19/2015 5:19:11 PM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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