US EditionKansas county agrees to pay $3 million over police raid on a small-town newspaper, editor says
Marion County settled for over $3 million and issued formal apologies after an August 2023 raid on the Marion County Record, highlighting concerns over press freedom violations.
- On Tuesday, Marion County agreed to pay more than $3 million and apologize over the Aug. 11, 2023 raid, following the Marion County Commission's Monday approval of settlement agreements.
- The Aug. 11, 2023 raids targeted the Marion County Record office, the publisher's home and a councilmember's home after a local restaurant owner accused the paper of invading privacy and accessing driving records; two special prosecutors found no crimes and flagged incomplete investigations.
- Officials say insurance covers most of the settlement, though Marion County will pay $50,000 directly; Meyer receives $1.5 million, Herbel $650,000, Zorn $600,000 and Gruver $250,000.
- In two of four agreements the Marion County Sheriff’s Office admitted regret, while Jeff Soyez expressed sincere regrets to Eric and Joan Meyer and Ruth and Ronald Herbel.
- Claims against the City of Marion, Kansas and former police chief Gideon Cody remain unresolved, and Eric Meyer said the payment is symbolic to deter similar actions against news organizations.
151 Articles
151 Articles
Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal
Please enjoy the latest edition of Short Circuit, a weekly feature written by a bunch of people at the Institute for Justice. In 2023, police in Marion, Kan.—armed with bogus warrants—raided the offices of a local newspaper, the home of the newspaper owner (a nonagenarian who died of a heart attack the following day), and the home of a city councilwoman who'd been critical of the mayor. And this week, Marion County and its sheriff agreed to a fi…
Small-town Kansas newspaper granted $3 million and apology over police raid
A Kansas newspaper whose offices and the home of its associate publisher were searched by law enforcement in 2023 has been granted a $3 million award by the county and an apology for violating the publication’s constitutional rights.
Marion County in Kansas Agrees to Pay $3 Million After Police Raided Local Paper in 2023
Marion County in Kansas has agreed to pay $3 million and apologize after local police raided the county’s weekly newspaper–The Marion County Record–and the home of the paper’s publisher back in 2023. The raids followed a dispute between the newspaper and a local restaurant owner who accused the paper of illegally obtaining information about a drunk driving incident, and after the paper had been actively investigating Marion County’s police chief…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
