Former Marine Detained By Law Enforcement Over Freedom Of Speech Issue

A former American Marine accused the government of lying about 9/11 was taken into custody and observers are wondering if this is another attack on the First Amendment which guarantees free speech and freedom of the press.

Passing the Buck

According to Brandon Raub’s mother, the FBI, Secret Service and Chesterfield County (Virginia) police came knocking. The agents wanted to know about Raub and his Facebook posts which were critical of the official ‘story’ surrounding 9/11.

After accusing Raub of wanting to start a revolution, they handcuffed him and took him to John Randolph Psychiatric Hospital in Hopewell, Virginia.

The Chesterfield PD said the situation was an “FBI matter” and refused to provide information about Raub’s detention.

An FBI agent told Raub’s mother, Raub was arrested by “the Chesterfield police department.” The agent then asked her if Raub was having problems relating to people and her son had been making threats which were “terrorist in nature.”

The Chesterfield PD didn’t charge Raub with anything and pointed inquiries to the FBI. The FBI said they had nothing to do with Raub’s detainment and forwarded inquiries to the psychiatric hospital.

The Secret Service responded merely, “No comment.”

Slippery Slope

A post on Raub’s Facebook page  on August 12 called the government evil and said it enacting evil against “you, your children and your countrymen.”

Raub was a 9/11 ‘truther’ and had some questionable beliefs But that doesn’t take away his First Amendment rights.

“Is this America,” said Nicholas Wooldridge a Las Vegas attorney. “That’s what I want to know.”

A lot of people are asking the same thing lately.

Under the current administration, Americans’ have been hearing a lot which threatens the First Amendment.

While everyone has the right to challenges various narratives, the current routine and blanket accusations against the press are disingenuous. Attacking reporters is not a healthy, or constitutional, precedent and challenges the basic precepts upon which the country was founded.

Politicians through history have used distortion and omission to paint their policies. A combative relationship with the media is not uncommon, but is a disturbing feature of current American politics.

The First Amendment is under attack and Americans must remember why it was written.

The Takeaway

Political leaders should to champion the media for the role it plays  in providing the information that allow individuals to come to informed decisions according to their own beliefs and interests, but always in the best interests of the entire nation. Anything less should be exposed and challenged.