{"id":2320135,"date":"2024-08-06T16:32:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T20:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-police-chief-involved-in-kansas-newspaper-raid-will-be-prosecuted-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T16:35:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T20:35:32","slug":"former-police-chief-involved-in-kansas-newspaper-raid-will-be-prosecuted-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-police-chief-involved-in-kansas-newspaper-raid-will-be-prosecuted-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Former police chief involved in Kansas newspaper raid will be prosecuted &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/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%2Fformer-police-chief-involved-in-kansas-newspaper-raid-will-be-prosecuted-washington-examiner%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=2320135&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--><p>A former Kansas police chief, Gideon Cody, will be prosecuted for obstructing justice related to a controversial raid on \u2063the *Marion County Record*, a\u200b local newspaper. The raid occurred in August 2023 amid allegations \u200cinvolving identity\u2062 theft and unauthorized access\u2064 to local driving records, purportedly concerning local business owner Kari Newell. The \u200csearch was conducted at the newspaper&#8217;s \u200bpublisher Eric Meyer\u2019s home and that of a city councilwoman, which led\u200c to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mrbeast-ends-collaboration-with-transgender-partner-amid-grooming-allegations-6\/\" title=\"MrBeast Ends Collaboration with Transgender Partner Amid Grooming Allegations\">significant public outcry<\/a> regarding potential violations of First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>Following the backlash, the \u2064local prosecutor withdrew the \u2063search warrants, stating there was insufficient evidence to \u200djustify \u200bthe actions taken during the raids. Special\u2062 prosecutors later identified probable cause that Cody&#8217;s actions constituted obstruction of \u2064justice,\u2064 defined under Kansas law\u2063 as inducing a witness or informant to delay or withhold information. Specific details regarding \u2064the charge \u2064involve a text exchange between Cody and Newell after the raid, although full disclosure has\u200b not \u2062been provided by the authorities. Meyer expressed\u200c satisfaction with the findings, \u200cbut criticized the lengthy time it\u2062 took for the authorities to \u2064recognize the \u200dwrongdoing was not on the\u200b part\u200c of the newspaper.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Former police chief involved in Kansas newspaper raid will be prosecuted<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1724509\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>police<\/a> chief who spearheaded a raid on a small <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kansas<\/a>&nbsp;newspaper will face charges for interfering with the judicial process, according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, the Marion County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office said it was investigating &ldquo;identity theft&rdquo; and &ldquo;unlawful acts concerning computers.&rdquo; It said it believed one of the reporters at the newspaper unlawfully obtained the driving records of local restaurant owner Kari Newell before publishing a story. It searched the <em>Marion County Record<\/em>, the home of the newspaper&rsquo;s publisher, Eric Meyer, as well as the home of a local city councilwoman in August 2023.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The raid drew national criticism, with many saying it infringed on journalists&rsquo; First Amendment right to a free press. Less than a week after criticism began of the raids, the county prosecutor, Joel Ensey, withdrew the search warrants and asked authorities to return anything that was seized during the raids because &ldquo;insufficient evidence exists to establish a <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.\">legally sufficient nexus<\/a> between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In a report, special prosecutors said they found probable cause that Gideon Cody, the former police chief who led the raids, &ldquo;committed the crime of obstruction of justice,&rdquo; which is defined under Kansas law as &ldquo;knowingly or intentionally&rdquo; inducing a &ldquo;witness or informant to withhold or unreasonably delay&rdquo; the production of testimony, information, or documents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The nature of the charge was not fully disclosed by prosecutors, but they said it was related to a text exchange between Cody and Newell after the raid.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The specter of ulterior motives, personal animus and conclusions based not on investigation but rather on assumptions permeates much of this case,&rdquo; the report says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; A stack of the Marion County Record sits in the back of the newspaper&rsquo;s building, awaiting unbundling, sorting, and distribution, Aug. 16, 2023, in Marion, Kansas. (AP Photo\/John Hanna, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In an email statement to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/06\/us\/kansas-police-chief-newspaper-charge\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN<\/a>, Meyer, the publisher, was &ldquo;pleased&rdquo; with the report&rsquo;s findings but frustrated with the timing.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are, of course, pleased that authorities finally have stated in public that we committed no wrongdoing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have no idea why it took them almost a year to do this. Their report makes it clear that they arrived at this conclusion mere days after the raid. Yet they left us swinging in the wind. That&rsquo;s disappointing, to say the least.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We also are pleased that they believe, as we long have, that Gideon Cody violated state law. Unfortunately, others involved in the case &mdash; those who didn&rsquo;t flee the state &mdash; seem to have escaped similar scrutiny,&rdquo; Meyer said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We understand that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-elusive-gulf-cartel-boss-arrested-in-mexico-near-texas-border\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Elusive Gulf Cartel Boss Arrested in Mexico near Texas Border.\">state criminal charges<\/a> might not be possible against some of them. That&rsquo;s why federal civil suits will continue, why there should be public outrage over some officials&rsquo; failure to perform even the most fundamental responsibilities of their positions, and why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/delaware-supreme-court-strikes-down-voting-by-mail-and-same-day-registration-2\/\" title=\"Delaware Supreme Court Strikes Down Voting by Mail and Same-Day Registration\">state laws allowing<\/a> them to escape responsibility may need to be changed,&rdquo; he continued.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The reporter who was at the center of the raid, Phyllis Zorn, also was pleased that charges were being pressed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There have been times over the last year when I was worried because there were so many law enforcement officers lined up against me,&rdquo; she said in a statement to the outlet. &ldquo;But I have faith that eventually justice will be done.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1724509\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1724509\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former police chief to be prosecuted for involvement in Kansas newspaper raid The ex-police chief who led a raid on a small Kansas newspaper is set to face charges for obstructing the judicial process, as stated by prosecutors. In 2022, the Marion County Sheriff\u2019s Office announced it was looking into allegations of \u201cidentity theft\u201d and \u201cunlawful acts concerning computers.\u201d They claimed that one of the newspaper&#8217;s reporters had illegally accessed the driving records of local restaurant owner Kari Newell prior to publishing an article. The investigation included searches at the Marion County Record, where publisher Eric Meyer works, and at a local city councilwoman&#8217;s residence in August 2023. The raid sparked widespread national backlash, with many arguing it violated journalists&#8217; First Amendment rights. Shortly after public outcry began regarding the raids, county prosecutor Joel Ensey retracted the search warrants and requested that any seized items be returned due to \u201cinsufficient evidence\u201d linking the alleged crime to those locations or items. A report from special prosecutors indicated they found probable cause that Gideon Cody, who was in charge during the raids, had committed obstruction of justice under Kansas law by allegedly encouraging a witness or informant to delay providing testimony or documents. While details about this charge were not fully revealed by prosecutors, they mentioned it involved text messages exchanged between Cody and Newell following the raid. The report suggested that personal motives and assumptions influenced much of this case. In response to these findings, Meyer expressed satisfaction but frustration over how long it took authorities to publicly acknowledge their lack of wrongdoing: &#8220;We are pleased that authorities finally have stated&#8230; we committed no wrongdoing&#8230; Yet they left us swinging in the wind.&#8221; He also noted concerns about others involved escaping scrutiny and emphasized ongoing federal civil suits against them due to potential state criminal charges being unfeasible. Phyllis Zorn, the reporter central to this incident, expressed relief over impending charges: &#8220;There have been times&#8230; when I was worried because there were so many law enforcement officers lined up against me&#8230; But I have faith that eventually justice will be done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2320136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/kansas-newspaper-seized.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[37368,32956,7952],"class_list":["post-2320135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-kansas-newspaper","tag-police-chief","tag-raid"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/kansas-newspaper-seized.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320135","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\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2320135"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320135\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2320135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2320135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2320135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}