RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE DEFENDS MARINE ARRESTED: Statement on Hearing

Virginia Cop Block

**BREAKING NEWS** Virginia Cop Block just received this statement from The Rutherford Institute on Brandon Raub’s incarceration/ hearing.

 “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2012
Contact:  Nisha N. Whitehead, Ph: (434) 978-3888;  Cell: (434) 466-6168; nisha@rutherford.org

RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE DEFENDS MARINE ARRESTED, INCARCERATED IN PSYCH WARD & DETAINED INDEFINITELY FOR POSTING POLITICAL VIEWS, SONG LYRICS TO FACEBOOK

CHESTERFIELD, VA— The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of a former Marine, 26-year-old Brandon Raub, who was arrested, detained indefinitely in a psych ward and forced to undergo psychological evaluations based solely on the controversial nature of lines from song lyrics, political messages and virtual card games which he posted to his private Facebook page. Although the FBI and Chesterfield County police have not charged Brandon Raub, a resident of Chesterfield County, Va., with committing any crime, they arrested Raub on Thursday, August 16, 2012, and transported him to John Randolph Medical Center, where he was held against his will due to alleged concerns that his Facebook (FB) posts were controversial and “terrorist in nature.” In a hearing held at the hospital, government officials disregarded Raub’s explanation that the Facebook posts were being interpreted out of context, sentencing him up to 30 days’ further confinement in a VA psych ward. In coming to Raub’s defense, Rutherford Institute attorneys are challenging Raub’s arrest and forcible detention, as well as the government’s overt Facebook surveillance and violation of Raub’s First Amendment rights.

“For government officials to not only arrest Brandon Raub for doing nothing more than exercising his First Amendment rights but to actually force him to undergo psychological evaluations and detain him against his will goes against every constitutional principle this country was founded upon. This should be a wake-up call to Americans that the police state is here,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. “Brandon Raub is no different from the majority of Americans who use their private Facebook pages to post a variety of content, ranging from song lyrics and political hyperbole to trash talking their neighbors, friends and government leaders.”

Brandon Raub, a former Marine who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was detained by FBI agents and police officers at his home in Chesterfield County based upon the nature of content posted to his Facebook page in recent months. Like many Facebook users, Raub uses his FB page to post songs lyrics and air his political opinions, as well as engage in virtual online games with other users. On Thursday, August 16, police and FBI agents arrived at Raub’s home, asking to speak with him about his Facebook posts. They did not provide Raub with a search warrant. Raub was cooperative and agreed to speak with them. Without providing any explanation, levying any charges against Raub or reading him his rights, law enforcement officials then handcuffed Raub and transported him first to the police headquarters, then to John Randolph Medical Center, where he was held against his will. Outraged onlookers filmed the arrest and posted the footage to YouTube. Law enforcement officials have stated in press reports that Raub was not arrested. However, as attorney John Whitehead points out, if the police have put handcuffs on you and you’re being held against your will, that qualifies as an arrest. In a hearing before a judge on August 20, government officials again pointed to Raub’s Facebook posts as the sole reason for their concern and for his continued incarceration. Ignoring Raub’s explanations about the fact that the FB posts were being read out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, the judge agreed that Raub should be incarcerated at a VA hospital for up to 30 more days. Rutherford Institute attorneys are working to challenge Raub’s detention and the highly unconstitutional nature of the government’s actions.

The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, provides legal assistance at no charge to individuals whose constitutional rights have been threatened or violated.”

US Iraqi Concentration Camps

Iranian scholar in Tucson confirms abduction by the U.S.

Press TV

The Iranian scholar who went missing last year while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has confirmed his abduction by the US in a video message.

Shahram Amiri, a researcher at Iran's Malek Ashtar University, insisted in the message released on Monday that he was kidnapped by US agents en route to Mecca in June 2009.

"I am Shahram Amiri, a lecturer at Malek Ashtar University, and at the moment I am in the town of Tucson in the US state of Arizona. I was abducted on the 13th of Khordad 1388 in a joint operation by terror and kidnap teams from the US intelligence service CIA and Saudi Arabia's Istikhbarat. I was kidnapped from the holy city of Medina," Amiri said.

Amiri stated that his abduction was intended to put political pressure on the Iranian government and called on the international community to help him gain his freedom.

"I ask international and humanitarian organizations and those that are involved in freeing prisoners in other countries to seriously follow my case because I was unjustly kidnapped from a third country and brought to the US, and I ask them to do everything they can to help me return to my dear county Iran," he added.

When the news broke of Amiri's disappearance last year, Iranian officials claimed the US was involved in the incident. Washington, however, denied any involvement in Amiri's disappearance or knowledge of his whereabouts.

The Saudi government also claimed to have no information on the fate of the missing Iranian scholar.