*******BREAKING NEWS*******
Breaking News from Brandon Raub’s Legal Counsel at The Rutherford Institute:
“For Immediate Release: August 21, 2012
District Court Refuses to Stop Transfer of Marine Brandon Raub to Salem Psych Ward, 3 Hrs. Away, for Posting Political Views, Song Lyrics to Facebook
CHESTERFIELD, VA— Special Justice Walter Douglass Stokes for the General District Court for the City of Hopewell, Va., has denied an emergency motion filed by attorneys for The Rutherford Institute to stop former Marine Brandon Raub from being forcibly transferred to a psychiatric facility more than three hours away from his family, friends and legal team. 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, is being transferred from John Randolph Psychiatric Medical Hospital in Hopewell to the Veterans Hospital in Salem, Va., on the other side of the state. Raub was arrested on August 16, 2012, and has since been detained against his will due to alleged concerns by government officials that his Facebook posts are controversial and “terrorist in nature.” Rutherford Institute attorneys are challenging Raub’s arrest and detention on the grounds that the detainment order was procedurally improper, the result of an unlawful detention, and was based entirely on statements made by Raub that constitute protected free speech under the First Amendment.
The Rutherford Institute’s information on Raub’s case is available at www.rutherford.org.
“This is not how justice in America is supposed to work—with Americans being arrested for doing nothing more than exercising their First Amendment rights, forced to undergo psychological evaluations, detained against their will and isolated from their family, friends and attorneys. This is a scary new chapter in our history,” 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 FB 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 has been held against his will. Outraged onlookers filmed the arrest and posted the footage to YouTube.
In a hearing before Special Justice Walter Douglass Stokes 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 FB posts were being read out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, Stokes sentenced the former Marine to up to 30 days’ further confinement in a psych ward and signed a court order for Raub’s involuntary admission to the Veterans Hospital in Salem. Rutherford Institute attorneys are in the process of filing various emergency motions and procedural appeals to challenge Raub’s detention.”
[...] VA Cop Block [...]
Making death threats and threats of other violence are not protected free speech. I have seen his FB page and his rantings are worrisome and indicate mental instability. In light of the other crazies who have gone on shooting sprees in the last couple of months, I am glad someone did something about this young man. Hopefully he will get the help he needs.
Agreed.
Claiming to lead a revolution and civil war for the american people against their government and will win is dumb to publicly announce. You make that gesture toward any man and his family and see what happens.
Another thing is not only was he insinuating things of that nature, also he called upon his fellow soldiers to help him in his quest which is a public recruitment against the government. excuse my immature comment here but.. uh derrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Soldiers who serve do go thru mental pressure and many come back with issues.
“for the american people,” “make that gesture toward any man and his family…”
These two statements do not add up. If someone is going to fight the government for the people, they are not making any “gesture” toward any man and his family. They are making a gesture on behalf of the man and his family, who are not good enough of American citizens to stand up for themselves.
You’re fucking scary. People like you are the reason these arrests go unchallenged.
Go back to middle school and read the Declaration of Independence. Maybe then, you’ll understand why you’re not only incredibly wrong in immoral in your views, but why you’re also unAmerican and should probably go live in another, less free country.
Tell you what, I’ve just decided that you’re fucking crazy and need to be locked up.
Oh, there’s more to due process than that? Thought so… though, you are, in fact, quite insane, and should get some fucking help, sicko.
The case was dismissed, so I guess you’re wrong. You must be the sicko who signed the warrant.
[...] işbirlikçi” olduğu sorgu sürecinin ardından, kendi rızası olmadan kelepçelenip, zorunlu psikolojik tedavi görmek üzere hastaneye yatırıldı. Olayın üzerinden henüz bir hafta geçmemiş olmasına [...]
Brandon did nothing wrong but only expressed his opinion, and Im sure it was shared by millions of Americas, not that we have seen the video yet. The Govt is trying to make an example of him, so that other ex vets will not express their opinion, but it will not WORK!! People are not blind, and they know what is going on. People at the top, dont care about the Constitution, as they have thrown it in the corner, and think they are MORE intelligent than our forefathers, which you can tell by this administration, is blatantly false. If anyone needs a psychological examination its The Three Stooges plus ONE!!! Not Brandon. He is a TRUE PATRIOT!!!. Too bad this cant be said about Most of the democrats and even some turn coat republicans!!!
[...] Aug. 21st The Rutherford Institute: District Court Refuses to Stop Transfer of Marine Brandon Raub to Salem Ps… [...]
[...] agents, will be moved to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salem, VA. Virginia CopBlock posted a messagereferring to Raub’s move about 6:00 pm this [...]
[...] UPDATE: http://virginiacopblock.org/259/the-rutherford-institute-district-court-refuses-to-stop-transfer-of-… [...]