Today I contacted the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas in Houston and made inquiry as to what, if any, actions the DOJ is taking with respect to the unlawful indictment, arrest and detention of Liselle Herrera.
Although the details are somewhat muddy, Ms. Herrera apparently had an abortion/miscarriage and was hospitalized. The hospital reported her to local law enforcement, and Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez went before a grand jury and indicted Ms. Herrera for murder.
Starr County Sheriffs then arrested Ms. Herrera and she was held in jail for three days, with a bond of $500,000.00(!) requested. After public outcry, the District Attorney admitted Ms. Herrera had violated no law and her unlawful arrest and detention were in error.
This is a textbook violation of
18 U.S. Code § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law. Her unlawful detention is essentially kidnapping, perpetrated by armed agents of an out-of-control government. § 242 calls for punishment of up to one year in prison for this crime, and, if a dangerous weapon is involved ( the sheriffs were armed) the punishment can be up to ten years in prison:
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
In my mind, this is a more insidious and dangerous violation of Ms. Herrera’s rights than the infamous Rodney King affair. In that case, police beat Mr. King. They were initially charged under California law, but the Simi Valley jury would not convict on state charges. At that point, the DOJ stepped in and charged police officers with criminal violations of King’s civil rights. Two of the officers were found guilty and sentenced to 30 months in prison.
In Rodney King’s case, King had consumed alcohol, was speeding, led police on a high speed chase and, according to the police, attacked them. In this case, Ms. Herrera did not violate ANY law. She merely made a personal decision regarding reporductive rights that was, at the time of her actions, legal under the aegis of Roe v Wade. Extremists in Texas have passed draconian and unconstitutional laws which are a direct attack on the civil rights of every woman in the State of Texas.
I urge Kossacks to contact the DOJ (via email at: www.justice.gov/…
or the US Attorney in Houston at usatxs.atty@usdoj.gov