From Stark
John Koster, a Snohomish County Republican who came pretty close to unseating Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in the last election, is already on the campaign trail for 2012, and he’s attacking Larsen over the prosecution of Whatcom County resident Wayne Groen.
Here’s a link to Koster’s press release on the topic.
Groen runs a manure-hauling business and is well-known in rural Whatcom County. In April 2011, he was convicted of a felony charge in U.S. District Court in Seattle based on his actions in shining a bright light on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter hovering near his home in September 2010.
Groen’s prosecution brought discontent in the north county to a head, and there have been several community meetings and symbolic chaining up of farm roads because of unhappiness about the behavior of federal law enforcement offiicers in vehicles and aircraft.
Koster says he has brought the matter to the attention of Republican members of the state Congressional delegation.
Some questions for discussion:
- Should members of Congress intervene in federal prosecutions?
- Koster seems to be an advocate of strong enforcement of border security and existing immigration laws, and a strong opponent of anything that smacks of amnesty for immigration law violators. Can we expect federal officers to police our border around the clock and round up illegals with minimal disruption to life along the border?
- Is it possible to be wary of federal power but supportive of rigid enforcement of immigration laws at the same time?
If there were drug smugglers crossing the border, and entered his home to rape his wife and kids, I am sure the story would be different. They would be saying, “Where was the Border Patrol”.
Kostger is using this as a scam issue against Larsen. I voted for Koster but politicians have no place in the judiical system, it is a separate and whole power, i.e. legislative branch v judicial branch. Koster needs to find a new issue, this one’s dead…
If it is true, as Groen’s lawyer stated at the town hall in Lynden that “most of all they (Federal Prosecutors) wanted to make an example out of Wayne Groen and send a message to all of you (border community members) …that this type of behavior would not be tolerated”… then I think we do have a great deal to worry about with our federal government–and Kudos to John Koster for having the guts to weigh in on this matter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMMIpWEsIYI
It should also be known that Federal Prosecutor Jenny Durkan is notoriously partisan and a former Democratic Party operative and was recently named one of Seattle’s “Power Lesbians” by the Seattle Weekly.
Obama, Larsen and Durkan, all of them ultra-lefties and all of them AOK with teaching the Christian Republican border community of Lynden a lesson. Be afraid, very afraid.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2001-07-11/news/power-lesbians/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009338816_durkan15m.html
Step back — shining the light is a safety hazard. What would you all say if the helicopter crashed? If the pilot died? Koster is speaking out of both sides of his mouth. How can you have the border security and not have the patrolling that goes with it? Ralph, good job is trying to muddy the argument by bringing in extraneous (and useless “info”) to try to make your point. None of it has anything to do with committing a crime, being prosecuted, and convicted. What else is a defense attorney whose client was found guilty going to say?
Hey whywait: Why are you liberals all so ready to throw a guy in prison for, as you put it, a “safety hazard”. What next, prison time for not putting your kid in a car seat? Let’s not forget the helicopter was flying 500 feet overhead. Do you not drive your car at night for fear of being blinded by oncoming cars with their headlights on?
Additionally, it is fair to expose the profile of political animals like Jenny Durkan, who obviously has an ax to grind with private property respecting conservatives that don’t fit in to the godless “progressive” society that she and her Seattle lefty friends envision and religiously promote 24/7 through judicial/political activism.
And you S: Call me names. I’m used to being slandered by brainwashed liberals incapable of making an intelligent argument due to their progressive educations. Did you attend Western by chance?
Republican’s “young gun” Koster a blast from the past.
He lost in Whatcom County 46.57% to Congressman Larsen’s 53.42%.
Mr. Groen got his day in court and was convicted by a JURY. What exactly would Koster have done about that exactly? And what exactly could Koster have done about that?
Unless Rick Larsen was in the jury box, I don’t see how this is a reflection of Larsen’s public service.
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