Police questioned over legality of Kansas newspaper raid in which computers, phones seized

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Questions are being raised after police raided the office of a local newspaper in Kansas, seizing computers and cellphones.

Meyer said in his newspaper's report that he believes the raid was prompted by a story published last week about a local restaurant owner, Kari Newell. Newell had police remove Meyer and a newspaper reporter from her restaurant early this month, who were there to cover a public reception for U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican representing the area.

A two-page search warrant, signed by a local judge, lists Newell as the victim of alleged crimes by the newspaper. When the newspaper asked for a copy of the probable cause affidavit required by law to issue a search warrant, the district court issued a signed statement saying no such affidavit was on file, the Record reported.

Cody, the police chief, defended the raid on Sunday, saying in an email to The Associated Press that while federal law usually requires a subpoena - not just a search warrant - to raid a newsroom, there is an exception "when there is reason to believe the journalist is taking part in the underlying wrongdoing.

Press freedom and civil rights organizations agreed that police, the local prosecutor's office and the judge who signed off on the search warrant overstepped their authority.

 

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