Brandon Raub, the Chesterfield, Virginia marine, who was detained and committed to a psychiatric facility for 30 days simply because he said negative things on his Facebook account concerning the present regime, brought suit against a number of defendants in a federal lawsuit in tandem with the Rutherford Institute. Raub was held against his will, in a facility away from his family and his lawyer, until another judge released him stating that there had never been enough evidence to detain Mr. Raub. This case brought to the fore evidence that the present federal administration monitors the internet activities of its former soldiers, even if the Facebook or other account is open only to the user's friends. Soldiers who have spent multiple tours of duty have often been disillusioned by the government who made decisions which seemed bizarre to them. This was true in Korea, Vietnam, and anywhere since. In the past, the FBI didn't make a habit of coming to see anyone who expressed disapproval.
Initially, the suit brought by Raub and the Rutherford Institute named a number of defendants. A judge hearing the case this week narrowed the number of defendants to only one. This means that most of the players in the Raub case will escape punishment, as they will never even be tried.
This is a landmark case for many reasons. One, it's about free speech. Secondly, it concerns the present regime's collection of our political views. It also concerns the use of federal agencies to monitor our soldiers, and particularly our marines. It also tests our involuntary commitment laws and how flimsy a basis could be used for involuntary commitment. This case also demonstrates how federal agencies in tandem with local authorities can overstep their authority and make someone "disappear". It also speaks to an evolving picture of a lack of accountability for federal and local law enforcement. Lastly, if only one defendant will be tried in this case, it speaks to a system in which individuals who have been wronged have no recourse against a power hungry and aggressive regime. The case is also about intimidation, and a message to keep quiet, most especially if Mr. Raub is an articulate man who is likely to influence fellow marines, and other Americans.
The assertion that "Mr. Raub said negative things" and needed to be locked up was absurd especially when it was found on searching his home, that he didn't own even one handgun or firearm.
Please watch this case carefully. If this case passes into obscurity without jobs lost on a federal level or without a change in the way the federal government operates, in similar cases, then there is no longer justice in the United States. Tyranny would be broadly ensconced and here for the next fifty to one hundred years.
More information at:
http://m.timesdispatch.com/news/local/one-defendant-left-in-brandon-raub-involuntary-commitment-case/article_20cc2e1c-5796-11e3-bb90-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm
These are my prior posts on this case, this topic and related issues:
http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/08/are-these-soviet-tactics-here-in.html
http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2013/05/civil-rights-lawsuit-filed-on-behalf-of.html
This link should provide news updates in this case:
https://www.rutherford.org/key_cases/key_cases_brandon_raub/
