Civil Asset Forfeiture is a direct offshoot of the war on drugs. And any conservative who doesn’t condemn it isn’t a real conservative.
I’m with you. I understand the need to fight drug dealers and money laundering and all that. But, everyone should be entitled to due process. How the heck can police or other government officials just seize cash without due process, without criminal prosecution?? How the heck did this evolve to the point where they will seize cash with no criminal activity suspected, and then it’s up to you to sue to get your own money back???
Well said!
I agree. You cannot defend when you are assumed guilty and your property is simply taken by the government.
Which by the way has a conflict of interest as government then uses that money to buy things it desires to have.
“Civil Asset Forfeiture is a direct offshoot of the war on drugs. And any conservative who doesn’t condemn it isn’t a real conservative.”
I am utterly & disgusted by this process. I have no problem seizing the assets of some druggy or mobster - if it can be PROVEN that the assets were gained through illegal means.
Why the SC refused to take up this case - leaving it to Thomas to offer his (non-binding?) opinion is disturbing.
I have never agreed with civil asset forfeiture. I don’t understand Jeff Sessions defending it.
I don’t see how “ civil asset forfeiture” in cases like this where there isn’t even a conviction of the party to which it belongs is comparable with the 5th amedment.
Is that not a explicit example of being deprived of property without due process of law?
Or for that matter an example of the 2nd clause of private property being taken for public use without just compensation?
Maybe it is States that don’t have such a Constitutional restriction doing it. But Civil Asset Forfeiture laws on the federal level are explicitly forbidden by the U.S. Constitution. Only upon conviction of the party owning the property can you claim take it for public use.
5th amendment:
“nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”