Reason.com has a report on the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on the suit for intentional infliction of emotional distress brought by the Avila family against the U.S.
In 2007, DEA agents mistakenly raided their southern California home. Agents burst into the bedrooms of two girls -- one 11-years old and the other 14-years old -- yelled in their typical fashion "get down on the fucking ground," held a police weapon to the head of the 11-year old and dragged her from her bed because she was paralyzed with fear, and then handcuffed them, and forced them to lie face down on the floor for half an hour, while they ransacked the house.
The Obama Administration defended the agents, and in its brief to the court minimized and trivialized the agents' conduct. Dragging a girl out of her bed is described as "assisting her to the floor." The conduct was called "entirely reasonable under the circumstances."
The brief was signed in June 2011 by Laura Duffy, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California appointed by Obama at the urging of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.), and by Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division (appointed in April 2009). On Feb. 27, 2012, West was appointed Acting Associate Attorney General, filling the number three job in the Department of Justice.
Does the Obama Administration have any sense that accountability for the conduct of law enforcement officers is necessary for the law to have legitimacy?
Friday, June 22, 2012
Federal agents point gun at head of 11-year old girl: Obama Justice Department says, Okay
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