Lambert official to Ron Paul ally: “Are you from this planet?”
ST. LOUIS — Over at our transportation blog, aviation writer Ken Leiser has the story of a Ron Paul organizer who was detained at Lambert Airport recently.
Steve Bierfeldt, who was in St. Louis last month to help with one of Paul’s “Campaign for Liberty” conferences, was questioned at Lambert about $4,700 in cash he was carrying, apparently related to the weekend seminar.
Bierfeldt used his iPhone to record the exchange, which can be heard about a minute into the clip above.
The confrontation couldn’t have come at a worse time for Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration, which is trying to put behind it a recent report from the state Department of Public Safety that included Paul supporters among potentially dangerous militia groups.
It does not seem that the report is directly related to Bierfeldt’s detention. But, as the Post-Dispatch’s Roseann Moring reported this week, the director of the division that developed the report, the Missouri Information Analysis Center, has been reassigned.
Since when is carrying cash a crime? The amount wasn’t even half of the level that a bank would have to report. This is a terrible sign that our new Governor is out of control. Nixon needs to be reminded that there are laws in America and that everyone, including his administration, needs to follow them. Even if this was TSA, it is tough for Nixon to claim innocence so soon after his state police singled out libertarians for harassment. Let’s hope this victim is willing to press some charges to try to bring more attention to this administration’s police policies.
“Since when is carrying cash a crime?”
Since Obama and Nixon and the ‘truth squad’ of hack law enforcement came to town. 4 years can’t come soon enough
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Chains we can believe in!!!
This is appalling! I certainly (MOST certainly!) no Ron Paul supporter, but to single out persons in such a manner, because they cannot or will not explain the possession of perfectly legal and non-threatening items (in this case cash) is abominable. Very disturbing! I doubt there is a direct connection with the MIAC report (itself an detestable abuse of civil liberties) but there is still enough here to concern any freedom loving citizen regardless of their political persuasion or loyalties. Where is the ACLU on this? I would hope that a civil action naming the individual TSA employees present - along with the agency itself - as defendants would bring the matter to greater public attention and ensure there are no more abuses of this type inflicted on innocent travelers.
If he would have simply replied, “Live Long and Prosper, nanu” he would have been detained for being a smartass. Vulgar language and insults are only ok for the Security Staff. Besides, it isn’t any threat to passenger safety to carry cash on board a plane. TSA isn’t Miami Vice, except in their minds.
“Where is the ACLU on this?”
LOL! You’re kidding right?
The ACLU is out looking for a terrorist to set free from prison or child molesters to live in your town.
Real rights for real people? Not the ACLU… not a chance
Pablo Escobar - The ACLU is getting involved. Give yourself another 4 years. I bet you will be a Ron Paul supporter when you realize he has had the correct answers all along.
— tsquare
“Real rights for real people? Not the ACLU… not a chance”
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All you right wing wacko’s, Neo Nazi’s and anarchists here should thank the ACLU because it’s probably their Skokie case that ensured you have the right to spew your abhorable vomit on these PD boards.
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1977 Skokie Free-speech Controversy - Neo Nazis wanted to demonstrate in Skokie IL, a jewish community. Turned into a free speech issue. Frank Collin requested ACLU for help and the court declared Neo Nazis could demonstrate.
The case was a landmark affirmation that the government cannot control speech based on the content of the speech itself, no matter how objectionable.
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ACLU - Real rights for real people?
You Betcha.
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http://people.howstuffworks.com/aclu3.htm
Oh Jake!
Why do you even write “this can’t come at a worse time” for Nixon. The state has nothing to do with the useless and power-abusing TSA.
And to rest of y’all. Don’t blame this on Obama. These are procedures and policies established by Bush Co.
The incident documented on the tape is pretty typical tactics, where authorities use evasive answers to try to bully people out of their rights.
This incident is reminiscent of the under-reported scandal a few years ago when St Louis police ambushed a nationally known bicycle brigade in Tower Grove Park, charged them with a crime that didn’t exist, and slashed their tires, all to prevent them from participating in protests against Monsanto’s World Agriculture Forum. As part of the Gestapo tactics, police also invaded the “Bolozone” residential complex on Illinois Avenue where some out-of-town protesters were staying, threw the residents out and allegedly urinated on their possessions. Complaints were filed with Internal Affairs, which I don’t believe ever ruled on them.
St Louis is a tough town for folks who dare who express unorthodox political opinions, whether left or right.