The Author
Gibson Guitars was singled out, by the Department of Justice, last August and accused of using illegal imported wood in the production of its guitars. Now, six months later, to the surprise of few, no charges have been filed.
According to Gibson Guitars CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz: “They…come in with weapons, they seized a half-million dollars worth of property, they shut our factory down, and they have not charged us with anything.”
The Departments of Homeland Security and Fish & Wildlife descended upon the Gibson factory for using, what they maintained, was an inappropriate tariff code on wood from India—a violation of the Lacey Act, an anti-trafficking statute. The problem, however, is not with the use of the wood itself, but concerns whether or not the wood used by Gibson was the correct level of thickness and finish prior to its importation to the U.S.
In the process of collecting “evidence” on Gibson, the government confiscated a half-million dollars’ worth of raw materials.
Additionally, according to RedState, Andrea Johnson, the spokeswoman for the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) had previously accused Gibson of conspiracy to violate international trade law—a statement she later had to retract.
Subsequently, Senator Rand Paul has introduced S.2062 - Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012, which is a bill to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to repeal certain provisions relating to criminal penalties and violations of foreign laws, and for other purposes. The bill can be tracked at OpenCongress.Org.
-Candice Lanier
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The Police Sate Of America strikes again
Fender’s better
travesty & a shame
Instead of serving warrants etc, it was a full on SWAT type “assault”.
sadly, this is very believable under this administration
Do not anger the obummer admin.
what does gibbons issues have to do with Obama?? nothing…
They go after this, yet how many companies employ illegals and a blind eye is turned.
That raid was more to test if people were watching and how much hell they would raise, if any. Just another Federal agency testing to see how much they can get away with.
Is this infringement of Due Process, or right to FAIR and Speedy trial?
How can a dept thats run by a gun runner level charges against anyone? And pelosi,wonder what kind of wood her broom is made from?
As soon as they stepped up to defend American jobs, they became investigated by the current admin. Funny
@ Scott, how can it not ? When he picked , hand picked the current AG.
So just bypass ever due process that is law.
This is a pathetic example of America – it has something to do with Obama because he appoints the leaders of the department of homeland security. A business in America that may have made some money – is now back peddling – wise up people! This administration WANTS us to all become poor so that he can “rescue” us and then get WILLING praise of the people to become even more of a tyrant!
Too much gov, cuz.
the d o j is a bunch of idiots
Just more typical government nonsense verifying the Bill of Rights is becoming a relic.
Unfortunately, I have no trouble believing the government would do something like that.
NDAA preview.
Gangstas!!!
Gibson should sue their asses!!!!
Is Holder involved? He probably wanted to sell the rights across the border somewhere…. This whole administration is a joke.
An outrage and a waste of tax payer’s money. Another Obama-lack-of-leadership-snafu!
Maybe the DOJ should be concerned with people’s crack rather than their wood.
Isn’t this what the album Rush:2112 was about?
And they want to run our health care. I better order a headstone now.
They have the right to condfiscate property and hold it but only if you waive your right to a speedy trial can it go on this long. If you donot waive your right they charge you with 100 things and tie you up in jail with no bond for years. Effers never go after dangerous people just the ones with money
Its ok for Eric Holder to smuggle guns to the mexican drug cartels but Gibson cant import wood for the lawful purpose of making great guitars? Anyone see a problem with this?
just more of nobama bull shit bet you dont see any illeagles getting taGED AND HELD FOR BEING HERE ILLEAGLY
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