It’s a good point about the chain of command leading up to this authorization. A lot of people with egg on their face is more likely than the PD or a few officers. And I’ve been trying to stick to the scope here without completely going off the wheels but have felt it necessary to bring up surveillance state concerns that I have.
Now regarding appeals, are there limits to which cases can be appealed, since this is just a misdemeanor and not a felony charge? If not, this really could wind up being a SCOTUS case if there’s debatable precedent, though I suspect it’s a pretty open and shut case of law enforcement overreach.
This case fascinates me because so many different dimensions are in play:
Law enforcement's manipulations of the warrant process.
The standards required to issue a warrant.
Citizens rights
Law enforcement's powers
Local & state politics
Utilization of the media by public officials
The allocation of finite tax dollars.
On the local level, costs are always a consideration and I imagine most towns don't get into legal battles with billionaires in a normal calendar year....though Palm Beach County is a different sort of area.
Case in point: Jeremy Jacobs...owner of the Bruins are more importantly, billionaire.
Jacobs owns perhaps the biggest and most expensive equestrian property in Palm Beach County and he has used his significant net worth to battle the Village of Wellington on the most mundane of land development issues and also the most controversial land development issues that he feels infringe on the sanctity of his property. During several local election cycles Jacobs brings in wannabe town council candidates and offers them substantial financial backing as long as they kiss his ring and pledge total devotion to his idyllic vision for the village
Jacobs has a local rival of substantial means who owns and runs all the equestrian events that basically support the town 6 months of the year. And this guy has his own stable of politicians in his pocket who typically counter Jacob's vision.
It's sad and hilarious to watch this ongoing battle wage on. And the local government is merely a pawn in their war with the election cycle victor wielding short term power.
An acquaintance did "collaborate" with Jacobs and run for a council seat. His funding came in from Tallahassee (state capital) from an innocuous small private business that has seemingly no possible relationship to Jacobs, the town, anything to do with government.....yet this small business was sending politicians checks to get them elected to small town government offices in order to squash a sidewalk that would parallel Jacobs property....and to prevent the construction of new hotel.
Makes you wonder what else Buffalo's Jeremy Jacobs is up to if he has some kind of financing operation set up in FL's state's capital.
My point: billionaires often have self serving agendas and unlimited finances to achieve a desired outcome while local governments operate in a less freewheeling manner.
Cost considerations may become a determining factor that influence how local authorities proceed with Tug Gate.
For sh*ts & giggles: If said hand manipulation case did ever evolve into a SCOTUS case based on 4th amendment issues, I suspect national law enforcement entities would take over funding from the local municipalities.
Go the distance Bob.....for the average guy.....and the above average guy too.
No doubt in my mind, Portnoy is already planning a sit in up in Washington.
East and west coast rappers are aligned, ready to march....pants at half mast. Watch out Ruth B G
