Well if the video is real, it is pretty darn scary, though the “agents” were correct, under federal they DO NOT need a warrant. THAT is the problem.
They were not discourteous, did not break into the house, did not “toss” the house but they did enter without the owners permission, remained despite her protestations and repeated requests that they leave, refused to provide i.d. despite repeated requests.
The video being available at precisely the right time? Well pardon my skepticism but it just seems too darn convenient. Then again, can anyone spell R-o-d-n-e-y K-i-n-g? Maybe she knew that “Allan” was being sought by the authorities and that they could eventually come to her home looking for him.
At the end of the day, does it really matter if she set it up or does the principle of the matter, one’s home is one’s castle/sovereign domain, trump whatever else may have been going on here? Of course, Ed Meese (remember him?) and, no doubt, former U.S. AG John Ashcroft would have said, “well if she has nothing to hide, why is she worried.” Well, to answer the question it is her right of privacy, “the right to be let alone,” that is at issue here. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_privacy#United_States)
Where is the dividing line and what balance are we willing to strike?
Well if the video is real, it is pretty darn scary, though the “agents” were correct, under federal they DO NOT need a warrant. THAT is the problem.
They were not discourteous, did not break into the house, did not “toss” the house but they did enter without the owners permission, remained despite her protestations and repeated requests that they leave, refused to provide i.d. despite repeated requests.
The video being available at precisely the right time? Well pardon my skepticism but it just seems too darn convenient. Then again, can anyone spell R-o-d-n-e-y K-i-n-g? Maybe she knew that “Allan” was being sought by the authorities and that they could eventually come to her home looking for him.
At the end of the day, does it really matter if she set it up or does the principle of the matter, one’s home is one’s castle/sovereign domain, trump whatever else may have been going on here? Of course, Ed Meese (remember him?) and, no doubt, former U.S. AG John Ashcroft would have said, “well if she has nothing to hide, why is she worried.” Well, to answer the question it is her right of privacy, “the right to be let alone,” that is at issue here. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_privacy#United_States)
Where is the dividing line and what balance are we willing to strike?