Lest you need reminding, Eric Holder is the mostly useless and malign Attorney-General of America. His sins of commission and omission whilst in office are legend but, praise the Lord, he is about to step down. (Before broaching the 'champers' there are hints and nudges to the effect that his successor will be even worse!) However, bearing in mind that biblical quote about the Lord rejoicing for every repentant sinner, it's worth raising a glass of something in his direction to cheer his most recent decision.
According to the WaPo, he has struck down the scam by which local and state police forces 'over there' can seize money and valuables from anyone they suspect of a crime at the point of arrest, long before any court considers their innocence or guilt:
Since 2008, thousands of local and state police agencies have made more than 55,000 seizures of cash and property worth $3 billion under a civil asset forfeiture program at the Justice Department called Equitable Sharing.
The program has enabled local and state police to make seizures and then have them “adopted” by federal agencies, which share in the proceeds. It allowed police departments and drug task forces to keep up to 80 percent of the proceeds of adopted seizures, with the rest going to federal agencies.
So, if you are American and you wondered how your local 'plod' managed to afford all those Armoured Personel Carriers, that storm-trooper military gear and 'full metal' gun-power, then now you know. In a proper world they would no longer be able to afford all that 'X-box' paraphernalia and would return to doing their duty like a proper constabulary. But alas, as you know just as well as me, it ain't a 'proper world' and so you can expect your town and state politicians to raise up your taxes to keep the police in the style to which they are now accustomed. Of course, it will all be done in support of that mythical lady, 'Laura Norder'! Still, at least you will not face the risk of being pulled over by greedy, grasping cops on the highway and being bullied into having your cash sequestered for no good reason.
So here's to you, Mr. Attorney-General, you were mostly crap but at least you gave a final squirt of air-freshener before you left.
