Topic: Obama’s America: EPA Officials Visit Man For Sending Email

[Pandora]

Remember Al Armendariz, the now-resigned EPA Director who analogized crucifixion tactics to the EPA's methods?  An Ashville NC man, Larry Keller was put off by Mr. Armendariz's remarks and attempted to obtain his email address in order to put voice to his dissatisfaction.

Keller ... was directed to contact a Dr. David Gray who is the Director of External Affairs for the EPA. Keller wrote a simple, one sentence email to Dr. Gray which said simply, “Hello Mr. Gray-Do you have Mr. Armendariz’s contact information so we can say hello?”

On May 2nd, just a little over a week after the Armendariz crucify comments had flared up, two special agents from the EPA and a local police officer showed up at Mr. Keller’s home. Here is the story in his own words:

    On Wednesday, May 02, 2012 at about 1:45PM two Special Agents from the EPA and an armed police officer who stood 6’6” tall visited our house in Asheville, NC. Their visit was a total surprise as we had not received any communications requesting an appointment. The agents presented very official looking badges and asked if we could sit and chat awhile. We moved to the back porch and took our seats with the exception of the armed officer who stood by the door to the house the entire time.

Keller was asked by the agents if he ran a business out of his home, and if so, what kind of business. Keller runs a consulting business from his home. Then he was asked if he had ever sent an email to anyone at the EPA. Keller, not remembering the email initially said no, then remembered his email to Dr. Gray trying to get the contact information for Al Armendariz. This is what happened next:

    At this point Agent Woods reach into a file and from it he pulled out a copy of my email to Dr. Gray. He handed it to me and I asked what was there about the content that justified their driving across the state of NC to visit me with no prior warning. The other agent then stated that my choice of words in the email could be interpreted in many ways. At that point I asked them to be specific as they were wasting my time. I stated that I pay for agents’ salaries and that of the police officer and they have bigger fish to fry. Special Agent Woods then asked if I had ever been arrested – the answer was a swift no. I then asked for a copy of the email they presented and they said that was impossible as the investigation was not yet complete.

Keller asked the agents for business cards that they had previously promised him and they were miraculously out of business cards. The two agents, who had driven four hours from Raleigh, North Carolina for this encounter with Mr. Keller, left via the back staircase as quickly as they had appeared without supplying Larry Keller with their contact information. He also states that the agents had parked blocking his driveway and that the local police officer had parked in his neighbor’s driveway.

Larry Keller was interviewed by Pete Kaliner, a local conservative radio host about the incident. You can listen to the interview here. I heard today on Kaliner’s show that Keller has hooked up with the John Locke Foundation to pursue the incident further. I’ll keep you updated as soon as more information becomes available.

Is this really the America that we live in now? A concerned citizen tries to contact a government official over statements that he made in public and the next thing you know armed agents show up at his home?

Yes, this IS the country we live in now.

BTW, Mr. Keller is a Republican and a member of a WNC Objectivist Group (Objectivist as in "Ayn Rand").

LINK

H/T Gateway Pundit

[Alphabet Soup]

He broke rule #1: "Never talk to the Po-po"

Never talk to the police. Never talk to the police.

Let me say this another time for emphasis: Never talk to the police.

Whatever your feelings about the police - they no longer apply. They are not there to help you. they are not there to protect you.

We live in occupied times and Occupied America.


Never talk to the police!

[IronDioPriest]

Why does the EPA have "special agents"?

This government and its tentacles have simply GOT to be dismantled. If we are fortunate enough to rid ourselves of Hussein, the only course forward is to INTENSIFY the pressure on government to get rid of these national government agencies.

This government is a threat to liberty, and these agencies with their supposed law enforcement mandate are their weapon.

[charlesoakwood]

Hey, this ain't no po po state, what are y'all talkin' bout'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fZQWjDVKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_2lT8DojM

[Pandora]

He broke rule #1: "Never talk to the Po-po"

Never talk to the police. Never talk to the police.

Let me say this another time for emphasis: Never talk to the police.

Whatever your feelings about the police - they no longer apply. They are not there to help you. they are not there to protect you.

We live in occupied times and Occupied America.


Never talk to the police!

You'd think more people would know this by now.  And to ask to see A WARRANT.

[LadyVirginia]

He broke rule #1: "Never talk to the Po-po"

Never talk to the police. Never talk to the police.

Let me say this another time for emphasis: Never talk to the police.

Whatever your feelings about the police - they no longer apply. They are not there to help you. they are not there to protect you.

We live in occupied times and Occupied America.


Never talk to the police!

You'd think more people would know this by now.  And to ask to see A WARRANT.

 
What I would do:
Have the number of an attorney handy and call it when someone in authority attempts to question you without a warrant.  Otherwise, donate to a couple of these conservative/liberty pro bono organizations and call them when you get approached.  They might not be able to help specifically but they can no doubt counsel you as to your next move.

The HSLDA (for homeschoolers) tells its members not to open the door and to call them immediately.

Too many people would fall into the thinking of "if I just answer their questions they'll know I'm a good guy".

[Sectionhand]

Over three weeks ago and this crap hasn't even made it to FOX ?

[BigAlSouth]

I would have demanded the "Special Agents" to raed me just which part of the email they deemed "threatening."

Then, I would have politely asked them to get the hell off my property.

[Libertas]

Everybody is oversenstive now days...well, mostly leftists and thier bretheren in the bureacracy.

I had flamed a state official years ago, had a chat with a trooper over it...he was sympathetic to my frustration and agreed it is silly an official would respond this way.  But now, today, I doubt I would have avoided an interrogation.

But 'Soup is right, never ever talk to authorities, and even if they produce a warrant, don't say squat!  Lawyer up and stay silent.

Thanks for posting those lecture links again CO, people cannot see that enough IMO!