> Is that evidence of committing violence against an ICE facility?
Again, the zines relevance isn't proving they did it. It's providing context and intent. If you can't see the connection between anarchist pamphlets and trying to raid a government facility, then I don't know what else to say.
The "imminent violence" only matters if the pamphlets were themselves the crime, and they were not. To go back toy earlier example, If I buy a criminal a bus ticket to help them escape, I can be charged with a crime even though bus tickets are perfectly legal.
> Then, finally on top of that 30 years for this seems incredibly excessive.
It is, but if it's in the statutes, then its up to the judge. Obviously they wanted to make an example out of these people.
> We let child sexual abusers in Texas walk free after only 30 days
Sounds like a completely separate problem that needs solving IMO.
> This is the modern Republican party. 30 years for moving political magazines. 30 days for sexually assaulting a child.
I think sentencing is mostly left to judges, which are not elected political officials.
> If you can't see the connection between anarchist pamphlets and trying to raid a government facility, then I don't know what else to say.
My point is, its not illegal to just generally be an anarchist. Generally being an anarchist shouldn't be related to evidence of one assaulting a government facility. Once again, if these zines were like "how to raid a government facility", sure I'd see it. But it doesn't seem like these zines were that kind of material. Once again, if they are then by all means let me know.
Let's change some facts here for a different perspective. Instead of an ICE facility, its an abortion provider. Instead of anarchist, its a group of Christian extremists targeting the facility. Would owning bibles be evidence of a crime? Clearly it shows a connection to the group, they all read this stuff! Extremists which have previously bombed abortion clinics have cited the bible in justification for their actions. Would moving those bibles be trying to hide evidence? And once again, evidence of what? That you attended the same book club as others who went on to commit crimes? That you're a Christian or that you're an anarchist? Is it illegal to be these things, to think these thoughts?
Also, this then implies the books you keep on your bookshelf will be used as evidence against you, even if they don't directly pertain to the crimes you're charged with. Is that really the world you want to live in? I know that's not the world I'd like to live in. And it seems like that's the world one political party is moving towards, continuing to march towards a world where ownership of certain books implicate you as a criminal.
> Sounds like a completely separate problem that needs solving IMO.
We can solve it by voting out those who pushed for that outcome and offered the plea deal. They happen to be Republicans these days and are running for a US Senate seat in Texas.
> sentencing is mostly left to judges, which are not elected political officials.
39 states have elected judges, several of which are directly partisan elections. I do agree in this case this is federal court which means they aren't directly elected. However, they are appointed and confirmed by elected political officials. This happens to be a judge appointed by Donald Trump in 2019. So once again, yes, this is an outcome of voting for Republicans.
> My point is, its not illegal to just generally be an anarchist. Generally being an anarchist shouldn't be related to evidence of one assaulting a government facility.
Let's say someone is obsessed with classic cars, and their neighbor's classic car goes missing. It then turns up in a storage unit owned by the guy obsessed with classic cars. Do you think their obsession with classic cars is relevant to the case? Keep in mind there is nothing wrong with loving classic cars.
> Do you think their obsession with classic cars is relevant to the case?
I'd say no, just generally liking classic cars isn't material to the case. I've got tons of classic cars on my fridge from Rock Auto. Does that mean I'm likely to steal a car? Would someone removing those magnets from my fridge and giving it to a friend be hiding evidence if I were to steal a car?
Are people having a bible likely to bomb an abortion center? What percentage of people that have also read those zines likely to shoot ICE agents?
The car being in his garage is evidence. The messages of him telling his friend "check out this car I stole from that dude" is evidence. Generally being a fan of classic cars isn't.
If you're charged with illegally smoking marijuana is having a Dr. Dre CD in your car evidence? If your friend takes that CD out of your car to give to another friend is that a crime? Is that crime worth 30 years?? Wake up my dude.
So you do think that I'm likely to steal a car because I've got some magnets on a fridge? When the neighbor's car went missing I should be the prime suspect because I shop at Rock Auto from time to time?
You do want to live in a world where something as innocent as magnets on a fridge with some classic cars are used as evidence you stole a car?
I guess my house should just be devoid of any kind of media, artwork, designs, or anything at all really. Having any kind of flair to a space could be used as evidence against me. Having a Dr. Dre CD clearly means I'm trafficking marijuana. Having a car magazine means I'm out there stealing cars. Having a bible means I'm a religious extremist bombing abortion clinics. It's a risk for me to own any of these as they'll be misconstrued and used against me as evidence for crimes I didn't commit.
Whew, threw out all my stuff, dodged a bullet there. I guess I should also be concerned about the colors in my home though. Green, the color of money, obviously means I'm obsessed with money, could be used as evidence against me for financial crimes. Red, seems pretty aggressive, could be used against me for violent actions. Guess I shouldn't paint my house any specific colors, that could be used as evidence against me as well.
> Every lawyer would disagree, but you do you.
Given you didn't even know most judges (nearly 80% of them in the US) face some form of elections I don't exactly trust your opinions of what "every lawyer" would think.
Honest question: Let's say you had a neighbor who was always asking about your daughter and telling you how lovely she is. Then your daughter goes missing. Would you not want you neighbor questioned on the grounds that he was overly focused on your daughter?
Keep in mind that your hypothetical daughter is 20 years old, and there is nothing illegal or wrong with your neighbor liking her a little too much.
Follow up, another neighbor has magnets of a Ford Taurus. Do you think they should be questioned as well, with just as much urgency?
Honest question: is listening to The Chronic evidence you traffic illegal drugs?
If my family members ever go missing I'd hope the cops knock on the doors of everyone relevant to their lives. Neighbors, friends, pastors, teachers/professors, all of them.
I don't think someone should go to jail because they at one point in time in the past hit on an adult daughter who went missing.
Again, the zines relevance isn't proving they did it. It's providing context and intent. If you can't see the connection between anarchist pamphlets and trying to raid a government facility, then I don't know what else to say.
The "imminent violence" only matters if the pamphlets were themselves the crime, and they were not. To go back toy earlier example, If I buy a criminal a bus ticket to help them escape, I can be charged with a crime even though bus tickets are perfectly legal.
> Then, finally on top of that 30 years for this seems incredibly excessive.
It is, but if it's in the statutes, then its up to the judge. Obviously they wanted to make an example out of these people.
> We let child sexual abusers in Texas walk free after only 30 days
Sounds like a completely separate problem that needs solving IMO.
> This is the modern Republican party. 30 years for moving political magazines. 30 days for sexually assaulting a child.
I think sentencing is mostly left to judges, which are not elected political officials.