By A. Dru Kristenev ——Bio and Archives--November 16, 2023
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As much as federal agencies are running roughshod over average citizens, who have done nothing more than nonviolently voice their opinion on or near public property, their jurisdiction is limited.
“Really?” some may ask. Yes, really. The problem is that sheriffs have been conditioned to ignore the fact that they are endowed with the highest order of legal authority in the nation. The FBI, ATF, and other executive agencies have the proper ability to enforce warrants within a county outside of Washington, D.C. if the county sheriff allows them that latitude within their jurisdiction.
The excessive force FBI has been using to arrest unarmed, nonaggressive individuals on misdemeanor charges is (not to be flippant but factual) overkill when they come charging into counties, where assent for their operations is accorded to local law enforcement.
It was reported that county law enforcement officers assisted the FBI’s over-reactive, armed incursion, and manhunt of veteran Greg Yetman, who served honorably in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gitmo, for charges related to January 6, 2021. It’s not clear what role sheriffs played in pre-dawn raids where, in two instances that the public has been made aware, unarmed men were summarily murdered.
It’s possible that sheriffs either don’t know the scope of their authority, or may be intimidated by federal agencies’ militaristic arming, in order to stand their ground to protect their constituents from, what is essentially, a foreign power.
Federal agencies created by the executive branch have their jurisdiction confined to Washington, D.C. and Article I Section 8 installations. Operations conducted outside of the ten square miles of the national capital or facilities under constitutionally conferred federal supervision, must be sanctioned by locally elected officials who are held directly accountable to the people.
What is problematic is that sheriffs are woefully uninformed of their true charge to protect their constituents from all danger, which can, and is seen in the current state of affairs, include federal law enforcement. Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association teaches the defense of citizens’ constitutional rights, which means that sheriffs, if necessary, may restrain officials or agencies from violating those rights.
As the CIA has no authority to operate on United States soil, the FBI should correctly obtain permission from local law enforcement when working outside federal enclaves. Yet, it appears they, and other federal agencies, may be bypassing protocol and rushing in with or without county consent. Along the southern border, federal agencies, under Biden administration direction, have brazenly encroached on state and county jurisdictions, violating the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.
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Where are the sheriffs who could be blocking the barely legal, martial FBI raids to arrest individuals on magnified charges of trespass or, frankly, benign loitering? Oft-repeated media accusations of sedition or insurrection have not been charged in warrants being served upon J6 demonstrators, individuals deemed nonviolent or otherwise harmless. That includes members and associates of the Trump administration, even President Trump himself.
In which case, there is no rational justification for swarming into residential communities with armored vehicles, dozens of agents outfitted in body armor, helmets and riot gear, and wielding lethal weaponry to apprehend unarmed citizens. Inordinate, extreme force has been used to break down doors, invade homes, and unlawfully breach neighbors’ property in troubling efforts to make arrests.
It is uncanny how national media are conveniently in attendance to record the sieges and seizures, but sheriffs’ deputies don’t have as much presence. How much have sheriffs been informed before the FBI and/or ATF arrive with unwarranted, oppressive firepower?
Where Craig Robertson, a 74-year-old, 5’4” heavily overweight man, whose Facebook posts disparaged President Biden (Secret Service designated them ‘threats’), was killed in a morning raid, sheriff’s deputies weren’t apparent in photos and video of the incident.
In the case of the FBI’s violent attack on the home of Theodore Deschler, a totally disabled veteran, whom they also killed, a Chester County sheriff’s car was seen in attendance. Both incidents occurred within less than a week in August 2023 and, in Deschler’s circumstance, no reason was released for the raid and his subsequent shooting death by agents.
Understanding that sheriffs are empowered to deter and restrain unlawful actions by the FBI, other federal agencies or officials, it is incumbent on citizens to elect individuals to that office who will enforce their constitutional authority. If any sheriff is complicit with overreaching federal agencies, allowing them to use improper force to detain, or unconscionably injure or kill their constituents, they must be voted out or pressured to resign for violating their oath of office.
Finally, executive branch-created administrative agencies, including law enforcement, do not have authority to override that of the People which is maintained through their elected county sheriffs. It is ultimately in the hands of citizens to elect courageous sheriffs who are willing to uphold their constituents’ rights against the criminal tactics of federal agencies.
Unless voters don’t hesitate to get involved, we can’t answer for the unconstitutional conduct of the Biden administration, but we can make our sheriffs answer why they are not standing up for us.
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Former newspaper publisher, A. Dru Kristenev, grew up in the publishing industry working every angle of a paper, from ad composition and sales, to personnel management, copy writing, and overseeing all editorial content. During her tenure as a news professional, Kristenev traveled internationally as a representative of the paper and, on separate occasions, non-profit organizations. Since 2007, Kristenev has authored five fact-filled political suspense novels, the Baron Series, and two non-fiction books, all available on Amazon. Carrying an M.S. degree and having taught at premier northwest universities, she is the trustee of Scribes’ College of Journalism, which mission is to train a new generation of journalists in biblical standards of reporting. More information about the college and how to support it can be obtained by contacting Kristenev at cw.o@earthlink.net.
ChangingWind (changingwind.org) is a solutions-centered Christian ministry.