Video: First they came for Brandon Raub

A couple of weeks ago a former US Marine, Brandon Raub, was hauled off in handcuffs(but not arrested) for his FaceBook postings. Lucky for him, his brother was on hand and videotaped the whole encounter. Again, lucky for him, via the internet and FaceBook, news of this abuse of power by the FBI spread like wildfire, and a public spotlight was shone as Raub was detained for days.

From War On Terror News:

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Disturbing Detention: Former Marine held for Facebook Rants

UPDATE (23 AUG 2012):

From the Richmond Times Dispatch;

"After an hourlong hearing, Circuit Judge W. Allan Sharrett said an involuntary commitment petition issued against Brandon J. Raub was invalid because it contained no allegation or basis to holding him.

“The petition is so devoid of any factual allegations that it could not be reasonably expected to give rise to a case or controversy,” said the release order signed by the judge and sought by lawyers Anthony F. Troy and Brian D. Fowler.

Sharrett said that he was shocked by the failure of a magistrate to not include in the order any grounds for holding Raub, a Chesterfield resident who was transferred from John Randolph Hospital in Hopewell to the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center."

This Ain't Hell reports.

I have long stated that the 1st Amendment protects the right of the individual to not only be stupid, but demonstrate how stupid they are, to the rest of the World. The 5th Amendment comes into play into this case as well. It provides that "No person shall be... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

Last week, Brandon Raub, a US Citizen, and Veteran of the US Marine Corps, was detained, based on "tips" about his Facebook postings. According to some reports, the US Secret Service, the FBI, and County Sheriff's office were involved and he ended up in involuntary detention for 32 days (so far) for "mental health" observation. So far, the FB postings I've become aware of, demonstrate a propensity for him to believe in various Conspiracy Theories, surrounding 9/11 and other events of historical relevance, but I've seen no indication that he has attempted to commit or conspire to commit any crimes. It does appear that he believes that the Nation is headed towards Civil War or Revolution in the near future, but I have seen nothing that indicates that he is calling for Armed Conflict, only that he believes it is coming, and that those opposed to the government will ask him to join their side, as a leader.

Some have speculated that there must be more behind the scenes, than what has been published about him, and his condition. "They" have stated their faith in the authorities that made the decision. And in most cases, I too extend the benefit of the doubt to my Brothers in Blue, but they are not infallible, and they are not all equal.

Now, I am not defending his rants, but I am defending his right to believe those things, and his right to tell the world about them. I think his 9/11 Conspiracy Theories are downright idiotic, though it is usually people smarter than me that are able to connect dots with lines that don't exist. The 1st Amendment doesn't protect only politically correct, uncontroversial, or unoffensive Speech. It protects offensive, politically incorrect, & incorrect opinion. It protects political speech against the government and ruling politicians...

Much more from WOTN here.


According to my reading on this incident, and background, it appears that Raub is not the first to be hauled off and 'disappeared' for exercising his rights to freedom of speech.


From Special Operations Speaks:

Vets Being Rounded Up Nationwide? Must watch interview

SOS Note: The Rutherford Institute is a very respected constitutional law firm. https://www.rutherford.org/

Constitutional Attorney John Whitehead, who represented wrongly-incarcerated marine Brandon J. Raub for free, appeared on Glenn Beck’s program to talk about how Brandon is unfortunately not alone in many ways.

I can't figure out how to embed the video interview, but it IS a must watch, so head over here to get a real earful of what dangerous times we live in; dangerous times because our freedom of speech is under attack.

Beck is right in his wrap when he says "the world is a dangerous place...but ...if we can't meet on the battlefield of ideas...talk to each other, we will lose the essence of who we are, and we will never be a great nation again. "

Raub has been released - with no charges laid - and has given an interview, which is a must watch.

From EU Times:

Brandon Raub makes first public comments following ordeal.

In his first public comments since being kidnapped by authorities over political posts on Facebook, former Marine Brandon Raub tells John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute that he is scared for his country.

Raub’s case went viral on the Internet earlier this month when on August 16, the former Iraq and Afghanistan veteran was kidnapped from his home by police, FBI and Secret Service agents and forcibly incarcerated in a psychiatric ward by authorities in Virginia in response to Facebook posts which the FBI deemed “terrorist” in nature.

Raub was released after a week when a judge concluded that the original petition ordering him to be detained contained no information whatsoever on the reasons behind Raub’s incarceration.

Raub explained that one of his main concerns in being publicly vocal about his concerns with the activity of the U.S. government was executive orders that allow the state to seize dictatorial power in a time of crisis, including the seizure of private property, communications and the institution of forced labor camps...

There is much more here, and then there is this video:

Aug 28, 2012 by TRIFreedomUnderFire

Brandon Raub, a decorated marine who was arrested by federal agents and incarcerated in a psych ward for simply posting thoughts and song lyrics to his Facebook page, discusses his ordeal and his thoughts about the state of our freedoms with John Whitehead, Constitutional Attorney and President of The Rutherford Institute.

Truth of the matter is that none of us can agree 100% with what everybody else says, but it is a chill wind that blows when any one of us needs to watch our everyday conversations/writings for fear of being rounded up. I often joke about the fact that various alphabet agencies read this site (yes, not just from America, but a few other countries too.) I have no way of knowing why they check here, but I am also very vocal that no government agency will stifle the Brat 'pen.'

I am reminded of a passage from 1984:

...nor was any item of news, or any expression of opinion, which conflicted with the needs of the moment, ever allowed to remain on record.. (going to have to go back and re-read 1984 I reckon.)

As we are in the grips of a particularly ugly election campaign in the US, the depth of smears shows that Newspeak is alive and well as *certain* politicians try to rewrite historical facts to fit their own political agenda/narrative.

First they came for Brandon Raub. Next, they may come for you or me. By then, will there be ANYbody left to speak?

Wake UP, America....