In an development entirely unforeseeable by anyone, the ATF used a secret Patriot Act search to look for drug paraphernalia in the home of a gang member in Wichita, Kansas.
The justification: a secret search was necessary to prevent the suspect from escaping. Which is perfectly logical -- give people powerful tools and they'll use them. If only there were an easy way to anticipate this kind of behavior when proposing and debating legislation, something about power, you know, like corrupting or something.
The spokesentity for the US Attorney's office in Kansas says that he "believes this evidence was obtained legally." Well, shyeeeah -- what else is he going to say? Thanks so much for participating, spokesbeing.
I think the defense lawyer, Charles O'Hara, says it best: "I thought that this Patriot Act was something passed to protect us all from these terrorist acts, and it would be used very judiciously." It's always so refreshing to see evidence of American näiveté in this day and age. He probably used to vote Republican, too. Sucker.
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