www.rutherford.org/


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On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Defends Marine Arrested, Incarcerated in Psych Ward & Detained Indefinitely for Posting Political Views, Song Lyrics to Facebook

August 20, 2012

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 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 Facebook 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 special justice 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 Facebook posts were being read out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, the special justice 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.

Press Contact:
Nisha Whitehead
(434) 978-3888 ext. 604
(434) 466-6168 (cell)
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The guy was talking about starting a revolution and cutting off heads etc. This guy is no Bradley Manning it must be said.

This is yet another taste of what's coming and it sickens me.

I've not actually seen what he'd posted, so don't know how 'threatening' it may have sounded. What I did read a few days ago, was an article saying he'd posted a desire to see certain politicians arrested. Who here doesn't share that opinion?

Having posted an article here previously though, which detailed the stance being taken by the authorities, that people who speak about their rights under the First Amendment would be viewed as being mentally ill, I see the actions taken against Raub as morally wrong, illegal, intimidation tactics

It bodes ill for those of us who are government 'dissenters', that these labels of 'terrorists' and 'lunatics are being applied to people who simply express dissatisfaction and displeasure with the actions of those soulless bastards who are supposed to be working for us.

Bear in mind too, how laws are being pushed through in Britain, to conduct arrests and trials in secret. If I remember rightly, Straw & Smith *spits twice* tried it on a few years ago, but others are at it again now. It' extremely grim imo.

Brandon Raub Released from Psychiatric Hospital; Did the FBI Go Too Far?

Marine Brandon Raub of Richmond, VA, was unlawfully detained and ordered to be released from a Psychiatric Hospital, according to Circuit Judge W. Allan Sharret on Thursday. Judge Sharret concluded that the involuntary commitment petition against Raub was "devoid of any factual allegations."

.....

"The government's power to involuntarily admit an individual for evaluation of a mental illness is a creation of statute. Because an order providing for such admission deprives a citizen of his liberty, to protect citizens from an overreaching government the Virginia legislature has created a specific, detailed procedure, set forth in Virginia Code § 37.2-800, that must be followed before an individual can be involuntarily admitted. In the present case, that procedure was not followed. As such, the District Court's August 20, 2012 order is void."

Tiffany Madison from Washington Times Communities reported that the judge overseeing the case was "shocked by the failure of the magistrate to include in the order any grounds for holding Raub." One cannot help but wonder how it is possible that Brandon was held in the first place. And is Brandon Raub's case indicative of other cases in Virginia? In America?

Full article at:
news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981575749

There is a long article on this here:

communities.washingtontimes.com/neighbor...over-facebook-posts/

Here is one short extract from it:

04/02/2013 -
Report. Published on Feb 4, 2013 .... Kidnapped Marine Vet Brandon Raub Speaks Out ...

i-baster wrote:
I've seen Alex Jones do that but not seen him arrested for that as yet.

Need some proof about 'cutting off heads etc' though or its going to get dismissed as another pee tube.

m.military.com/daily-news/2012/08/21/vet...cebook-postings.html

The article states it. I have read it other places. Somebody said it was a rap lyric.

i-baster wrote:
Cutting off heads where exactly?
And in a media article? Wheres the actual site where he says it?
What law has he broken? Resisting arrest for not breaking a law but resisting anyway? WTF?

i-baster and his orwellian state

It was the memory of this shit that infuriated so much me when 2 members here on separate occasions had a go at labeling 'conspiracy theorists' as being mentally ill. It still does when I think about it. Cheeky bastards. So I'm off to look at a happy thread.

Gilly wrote:
Its people like cathetar and his earthquake doom crap that get packaged along with far more sensible types unfortunately.
Find 1 tit on a forum and then label them all conspiracy nutters

andyh wrote:
Yes. but it takes an ignorant twat to tar everyone with the same brush.

Gilly wrote:
Doesn't it just

andyh wrote:
His Facebook is not public at this time so you have to be his friend now to see his posts. You are looking at one side of the story. I never said he should be arrested but when you start threatening behaviour online or offline then you are likely to face some sort of action. Free speech does not include threats of violence plain and simple. The right wing just want us to think that government are stomping around on people who have done nothing wrong but this guy worked for government so he was in violation of his own oath.

i-baster wrote:
The right wing? Just how clueless are you ?
Is right wing people who want civil liberties now and left wing people who don't?

Left and right are just economic differences of opinion, both are authoritarian in nature, its authoritarians who favour government control, libertarians who favour individual freedom and individual responsibility.

As for his facebook can't be seen now...fat lot of good thats doing you as you've already done nothing more than repeat something you've seen online elsewhere. You have no idea if he actually posted anything threatening online or not have you? No idea whatsoever

If the media or the govt says so then its just true isn't it?

Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes truth

Actually this is an old story. I did indeed see either a screen grab or his actual post back when it first came out. Since then he has made it private by the looks of it. It seems to me like a right wing issue because only right wingers think free speech includes threats of violence.

i-baster wrote:
Doles nayone know if there is a 2013 update to all this?