Unlawful Enforcement: The Department of Justice's Billions-Dollar Money Grab

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing scrutiny for its excessive spending on forfeiture investigations, a practice that has raised concerns about its potential impact on innocent Americans. Meanwhile, a New Mexico police chief has drawn attention for invoking his Fifth Amendment right to avoid using his body camera after crashing into another vehicle.

The Department of Justice has recently approved billions in new spending on forfeiture investigations, a practice that allows law enforcement to seize and retain assets from individuals suspected of criminal activity, even if they have not been convicted of a crime. The nonprofit law firm Institute for Justice has expressed alarm over the potential consequences of this increased funding, fearing that it could lead to the erosion of property rights and due process for ordinary citizens.

Concerns have been heightened by a recent incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Police Chief Harold Medina crashed into another vehicle while driving an unmarked police truck. Despite department policy requiring officers to activate their body cameras during traffic stops and other encounters with the public, Medina failed to turn on his camera, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. This admission has raised questions about the limits of the Fifth Amendment and the potential for abuse by law enforcement officials.

Unlawful Enforcement: The Department of Justice's Billions-Dollar Money Grab

The internal investigation into Medina's crash revealed that he had intentionally deactivated his body camera because he believed the footage could be used against him in a criminal investigation. However, legal experts have argued that Medina's actions may have violated state law, which requires police officers to activate their body cameras during any encounter with the public, regardless of whether a crime has been committed.

The Albuquerque Police Department has not responded to requests for comment on the internal affairs report. However, the lack of transparency surrounding Medina's actions has raised concerns about the accountability of police officers and the potential for them to evade scrutiny by invoking their constitutional rights.

Unlawful Enforcement: The Department of Justice's Billions-Dollar Money Grab

The Institute for Justice has long been critical of forfeiture laws, arguing that they allow law enforcement to seize property without due process. In a recent report, the organization found that the federal government and state and local law enforcement agencies forfeited more than $68 billion in assets between 2000 and 2018.

Critics of forfeiture laws argue that they are often used to target innocent individuals who may not have been convicted of any crime. Moreover, they contend that forfeiture proceedings often lack transparency and due process, making it difficult for individuals to challenge the seizure of their property.

Unlawful Enforcement: The Department of Justice's Billions-Dollar Money Grab

The increased funding for forfeiture investigations by the Department of Justice has raised fears that the government will become even more aggressive in seizing assets, particularly from vulnerable individuals who may not have the resources to challenge the seizure in court. It remains to be seen how the increased funding will be used and what impact it will have on the rights of ordinary Americans.