{"id":2003454,"date":"2023-08-17T10:32:01","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T14:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/items-seized-in-controversial-police-raid-at-family-owned-kansas-newspaper-returned\/"},"modified":"2023-08-17T10:36:57","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T14:36:57","slug":"items-seized-in-controversial-police-raid-at-family-owned-kansas-newspaper-returned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/items-seized-in-controversial-police-raid-at-family-owned-kansas-newspaper-returned\/","title":{"rendered":"Seized items from disputed police raid on Kansas newspaper returned."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fitems-seized-in-controversial-police-raid-at-family-owned-kansas-newspaper-returned%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2003454&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<h2>Controversial Raid on Local\u2063 Newspaper Office in Kansas<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/police-in-kansas-execute-chilling-raid-on-small-town-newspaper-seizing-phones-and-computers-5461508\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">items\u2064 seized from a local newspaper office<\/a> and its publisher&#8217;s\u2063 home in the small Kansas town of Marion during\u2064 a controversial \u200draid earlier this month have been returned, but an investigation into the matter will continue, according to officials.<\/p>\n<p>In an Aug. 16 statement, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said it had determined, in\u200d collaboration with the Marion County Attorney, that \u2062its investigation into\u2062 the newspaper, the Marion County Record, &#8220;will proceed independently, and without review or examination of any of the evidence&#8221; seized during a raid on Aug. 11.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At present time this investigation\u200c remains\u200d open,&#8221; officials continued. &#8220;We will work with the Marion County Record, or their representative, to coordinate the prompt return of all seized items. Once our investigation concludes we will present findings to the Marion County Attorney for review.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/media-giants-raise-first-amendment-concerns-over-police-raid-on-local-kansas-paper-5464545\">Media Giants Raise First Amendment Concerns Over Police Raid\u200d on Local Kansas Paper<\/a><br \/>\n        <br \/>\n        <span class=\"text-[14px] leading-[18px] text-[#737373]\">8\/14\/2023<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<li>\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/elderly-owner-of-small-town-kansas-newspaper-dies-from-stress-after-police-raid-report-5463897\">Elderly Owner of Small-Town Kansas Newspaper Dies From Stress After\u200c Police Raid: \u2062Report<\/a><br \/>\n        <br \/>\n        <span class=\"text-[14px] leading-[18px] text-[#737373]\">8\/14\/2023<\/span>\n      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey\u2063 said in the statement that affidavits had &#8220;established probable cause to believe that an\u200c employee of the newspaper may have committed the crime of K.S.A. 21-5839, Unlawful Acts Concerning Computers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, following &#8220;further review,&#8221; he had arrived \u2064at the conclusion that &#8220;insufficient \u2063evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the\u200d places searched and the items seized,&#8221; according \u200dto the statement.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Ensey\u2064 added that he had submitted a proposed order asking \u200dthe \u2063court to release \u2062the evidence seized and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/items-seized-in-controversial-police-raid-at-family-owned-kansas-newspaper-returned\/\" title=\"Seized items from disputed police raid on Kansas newspaper returned.\">directing local law\u200c enforcement officials<\/a> to return\u2064 the materials \u200cto the owners of the property.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>In a separate <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/marion-county-return-evidence-seized-raid-newspaper\/story?id=102317793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> to ABC News, attorney Bernie Rhodes, a lawyer for the newspaper, welcomed the return of the seized items \u200cbut stressed there was still a long way to go until the paper achieved justice.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Promising \u2064First Step&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a promising first step, but it does nothing to cure the\u200d harm caused by the illegal search in \u2063the first place and\u2064 regrettably it does\u2063 not bring Joan Meyer back,&#8221; Mr. Rhodes said. &#8220;Someone has to pay for what occurred. This may stop the \u2063hemorrhaging, but it does not address the damages that occurred.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Aug. 11 raid on the office of\u2062 the Marion County\u2063 Record,\u2064 a weekly newspaper founded\u2063 in\u2063 1869, and \u200bthe home of its owner and publisher Eric Meyer sparked widespread criticism\u2063 among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-world-of-ubiquitous-racism-new-attack-on-game-of-monopoly\/\" title=\"\u2018A World Of Ubiquitous Racism\u2019: New Attack On Game Of Monopoly\">major news organizations<\/a> \u2062and \u200d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-giants-raise-first-amendment-concerns-over-police-raid-on-local-kansas-paper\/\" title=\"Media giants express First Amendment concerns over police raid on Kansas paper.\">journalism advocacy groups<\/a>, as well as \u2063threats\u2063 of legal action.<\/p>\n<p>Personal computers, cellphones, and other materials were seized \u200bduring the raid \u200dcarried out by Marion police officers and three sheriff&#8217;s deputies, according to Mr. \u200dMeyers.<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement officials\u2062 also took the newspaper&#8217;s\u200b file server and various other equipment that was unrelated to their search \u2064but was needed to continue publishing work, he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our \u200cfirst priority is to be able to publish next week,&#8221; Mr. Meyer said in a statement announcing the raid.\u2063 &#8220;But we also want to make sure no other news organization is ever exposed to the\u200c Gestapo \u200btactics \u2062we witnessed today.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>An empty spot on \u200creporter Phyllis Zorn&#8217;s desk shows where the tower for her computer sat before law\u2063 enforcement officers \u2064seized it in a raid \u200don the Marion County Record, in Marion County, Kan., on\u2064 Aug. 13, 2023. (John Hanna\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Alleged\u200d DUIs<\/h2>\n<p>The raids on the \u2062family-owned newspaper occurred after a warrant was issued and signed by local Kansas Judge Laura Viar.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Viar was allegedly arrested \u2063at least twice \u2064for driving under the influence (DUI)\u2064 in two different Kansas counties in 2012 while she was lead prosecutor for Morris County, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansas.com\/news\/politics-government\/article278237263.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local reports.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Judge Viar\u200b did not respond to a request for comment from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-general-killed-near-aberdeen-proving-ground-first-responders-rush-field\/\" title=\"US General slain near Aberdeen Proving Ground - First responders race to scene.\">local media \u2064outlet<\/a>,\u2062 The Wichita Eagle, on the alleged DUIs.<\/p>\n<p>The Kansas Office of Disciplinary Administration (ODA), which investigates\u200b and disciplines lawyers, also declined to say whether or not it was\u200b aware of any arrests or criminal \u2063charges while Judge Viar was \u200ba prosecutor.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;What I can disclose to you\u200c is that Judge \u200cViar holds an active law license and has no prior \u200cattorney discipline,&#8221; Matthew J. Vogelsberg, chief deputy disciplinary administrator for the \u2063ODA, told the publication.<\/p>\n<p>The Epoch Times has contacted Judge Viar for further \u2062comment.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 raids were tied to a complaint\u2063 from local restaurant owner Kari Newell, who accused\u200c the \u2062Marion County Record of illegally\u2063 accessing and disseminating sensitive information about her driving record\u2014a drunken driving conviction against her\u2014and suggested that the newspaper was targeting\u200b her because she had thrown Mr. Meyer and a reporter out from\u200c an event held at her restaurant earlier in August.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Eric Meyer, the editor and publisher of the Marion County Record, answers questions about\u2063 a raid by local police and sheriff&#8217;s deputies on his newspaper&#8217;s newsroom and his home, in Marion, Kan., on Aug. 13,\u200b 2023. (John Hanna\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Marion County \u2062Record Co-owner \u2062Dies<\/h2>\n<p>Ms. Newell had reportedly accused the newspaper of invading her \u2063privacy and illegally accessing the information about \u200cher driving record, although \u200cthe paper said it had legally obtained the information from a tip \u2063and used public online\u2062 records to verify details.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;[The] entire debacle was brought forth in an attempt to smear my name, jeopardize my licensing\u2062 through ABC [state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division], harm my business, seek retaliation, and for \u2063personal leverage in an ongoing domestic court\u2062 battle,&#8221; Ms. Newell said in\u200c a \u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/kansasreflector.com\/2023\/08\/11\/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statement<\/a> cited by the Kansas Reflector.<\/p>\n<p>The newspaper ultimately opted not to publish \u200bthe information and instead\u200b contacted the police. However, it \u200ddid\u200b publish \u2063a story about a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mayor-of-charlottesville-pens-vulgar-poem-likening-city-to-rapist\/\" title=\"Mayor Of Charlottesville Pens Vulgar Poem Likening City To Rapist\">city council meeting<\/a> in which Ms. Newell herself confirmed she\u2019d had a \u2064DUI\u200d conviction in 2008 and \u200bthat she \u2063had continued\u200c to drive even after her license\u2062 was suspended, the Newton Kansan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekansan.com\/2023\/08\/16\/seized-property-coming-back-to-marion-county-record\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mr. \u200bMe<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>local law enforcement, that there was no evidence of criminal activity related to the seized items. However, the investigation into the controversial raid will persist. The items have been returned to the newspaper office and the publisher&#8217;s home in Marion, Kansas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":2003455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2003454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2003454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2003454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2003454\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2003455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2003454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2003454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2003454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}