Know what to do when the FBI comes to your door......

[Aaria]

if you should ever get a knock at the door from some FBI agents, know what to do like this gal, who grabbed her video camera and recorded the entire chat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfK8eXKj3H0

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Thanks for posting this. Looks like trying to intimidate protesters

from continuing. I am so glad this was her, and she was smart enough to remain silent. I am sure with my big mouth, I would have told them the only people I knew who were intent on destroying property and causing harm were the US government. That could not have gone well. Why do they think that a "peace activists" who protests peacefully would know if others were planning anything.

[Cal Carpenter]

7. Yep, the way they asked the question

so vaguely ('Do you know of anything....') must have made it so hard for her not to answer that way. I guess near the end when she was talking about the money spent for the Israeli military, it sort of covered that. She did great. They didn't even know what they were doing there. They looked like fools.

[TexasProgresive]

2. Do not speak to them

The charge brought against Martha Stewart was not insider trading but that she "lied" to federal agents. Evidently that has been made a crime. The problem is that whatever you say can be construed as a lie. Susan McDougal was caught in a bind by that turd master now president of Baylor U, Ken Starr; if she told the truth they would charge her with perjury- her only get out of jail card would be to lie.

They've screwed themselves- I and many will no longer cooperate.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Don't let them in the door. Good advice

Because once they get in if they mysteriously find a bag of drugs on the floor inside your house that wasn't there before they arrived you are going to be cuffed and stuffed so fast your head will be spinning.

This was a smart woman.

Don

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Imagine what a HS official could do if he/she wanted to, had a

personal vendetta against someone... why they can walk right in and make your house look like Osama's cave if they wanted to.

[gateley]

12. Good point about HS. nt

[bahrbearian]

4. I wonder if they interview Tea Baggers and Minute Men ?

[gateley]

9. In all fairness to the Feds, they do have to follow up when someone

(with an agenda or not) notifies them that there is "concern" about violence. All the whack jobs who post on FaceBook and attend Teabagger rallies get visits when we notify the authorities about them.

If we want them to follow up on our concerns, then we have to allow them to follow up on the concerns of others, too.

That being said, good info to on rights and just that we can video the 'interview' was very informative. Time for a visit to the ACLU website.

[bahrbearian]

25. Thats what I was thinking too.

[Kablooie]

28. I agree, they were just doing their job, but her choice to react as she did was her right.

Most people they interview will give them some information and if they have legal reason to suspect criminal activity they could return with more authority.

The occasional person that holds firm to their rights should not be construed as any kind of threat to our safety.

[MadMaddie]

10. I am betting no

They intentionally are not going after this radical element because they are associated with the religious right in most cases. They are worried about the religious right claiming religious persecution.....

[Rex]

6. Shit your pants...then excuse yourself for the smell?

[Morning Dew]

8. Pretty good job on her part

but she talked too much.

Not that I wouldn't call them if necessary, but the police, FBI etc., are like circus clowns - ok to watch from a distance, but I don't want a close encounter with one.

[The_Commonist]

14. Yeah, I think she talked too much as well.

She was on the right track, not answering their questions, but she said way too much.
Particularly at the end.
That did not help her.
They will continue to watch her now.

I think it would be best to say "I do not condone violence in any manner at all against anyone or anything, ever." Then let them ask their questions and say "I'm sorry, but I don't have to answer your questions, and I'm not going to." If it turns out later that you are even slightly acquainted with someone who commits some act of violence, if you've said ANYTHING, they will try to connect you to it. Like she said in the video, they can lie to you, but you can't lie to them.

[Morning Dew]

21. yep.

someone linked some "know your rights" videos here on DU and it convinced me that no good can come of answering questions or "innocent chatting" with law enforcement.

wwhoever posted those links - THANKS!!

[dipsydoodle]

11. I think I'd burst out laughing.

given they don't have jurisdiction in the UK.

[NNN0LHI]

13. That was changed by Congress in the mid-1980s

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june08/international_060308.html

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

An American is Harmed Overseas

06/03/08

In this age of globalization, more Americans are traveling and working abroad, happily and safely. But Americans overseas are sometimes victimized by terrorism and other deadly crimes. When that happens, how much support can victims and their families expect from their government back home?

Plenty, as it turns out. When Americans are seriously harmed overseas, the appropriate U.S. government agencies quickly pull together a coordinated response to the incident. And the FBI often plays a critical role in that response, whether there’s one victim...or hundreds.

The FBI’s jurisdiction in crimes or attacks against Americans abroad dates back to the mid-1980s, when Congress passed laws authorizing us to investigate hostage-taking and kidnappings of Americans and terrorist acts against U.S. nationals or interests overseas. Of course, we don’t go uninvited into another country—we get permission from the host government and always work with that nation’s law enforcement and security personnel, in concert with the U.S. Embassy and the Ambassador.

Our jurisdiction doesn’t extend to non-terrorism related homicides, robberies, rapes, and muggings of Americans—these are usually handled by local authorities. But we can—and sometimes do—offer investigative or forensics assistance in these cases if asked.

How it works. Let’s say the worst has occurred—a terrorist attack or kidnapping. What happens then? In general:

The victim or family (if able) contacts the U.S. Embassy closest to where the incident occurred.
The U.S. Ambassador there offers American assistance to the host government (in some cases that government asks for our nation’s help first).

Our Legal Attaché agent assigned to that country or region serves as a diplomatic liaison (we have more than 60 such agents around the world today) and works with the Ambassador and the entire embassy team to determine what resources are needed.

With the permission of the host government and in conjunction with the State Department, the FBI deploys its resources, supporting the investigative efforts of the foreign government. The size of our overseas deployments depends on the scope of the incident and what the host government requests.

What “resources” are available? Pretty much our full gamut: the FBI Fly Team, the first responders who get our investigative efforts off the ground…rapid deployment teams that handle logistics…investigators and analysts…hostage negotiators…crisis managers…evidence response teams…and fingerprint personnel.

The FBI also serves on the State Department-led Foreign Emergency Support Team, an interagency on-call group of terrorism experts poised to respond to terrorist incidents overseas.

Since the 1980s, we have deployed hundreds of times all over the world, supporting the efforts of our global partners and helping to identify and bring terrorists and criminals to justice. In the past few years alone, we’ve found ourselves in:

Athens, after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired into the U.S. Embassy (2007);

Gaza, negotiating for the release of an American reporter and his cameraman (2006);

London, working with our British partners after a coordinated terrorist attack on the London subway that also wounded numerous U.S. citizens (2005);

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after explosions at several compounds that housed Americans (2003).

We also offer a variety of services to victims and their families after an incident that falls within our jurisdiction. Stay tuned for an upcoming article focusing on the services our victim assistance experts provide.

[dipsydoodle]

17. Nothing would convince me

that it wasn't a wind up - I'm english.

edit to add: thanks for info anyway.

[zabet]

15. I would...

do the same thing I did last time they knocked on my door (at 5:30 am). Politely tell them I had nothing to tell them and call my attorney (and yes I have his home number and did get him a 5:45 am). The Federal agents were extremely polite and understanding and we actually had pleasant conversation about ordinary things while they awaited word from their superiors.

[Gold Metal Flake]

16. Didja notice their vehicle?

Just an ordinary Chevrolet Suburban with roof rack, trailer hitch receiver and ordinary general public Texas truck license plate. No outward indications that the driver is a LEO of any kind.

[shanti]

18. maybe they took it down?

when i went to the site, all that showed was a black screen. :shrug:

[Trillo]

19. The poor don't have video cameras!

Too expensive!

[Bozita]

20. If this *visit* occurred during a protest, they wouldn't have been so polite.

Just prior to watching this video, I had viewed this ... http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=5366

And I don't think they'd have been so accepting of her camera.

[Morning Dew]

22. 2 minutes in and I'm amazed.

thanks.

[adamuu]

23. I don't understand the sarcasm. n/t

[safeinOhio]

24. Good way to get them to leave

is, because you say this is not about me and perhaps some one I know, if you will give me immunity against any and all crimes, I'd be glad to speak with you. Once you get that in writing, then you may tell them you know nothing.

[NNN0LHI]

26. Yea but then it gets into the candy bar your friend might have shoplifted 20 years ago

Because to get immunity you have to tell them about every crime you are aware of ... ever. And if they find one instance where you "forgot" to disclose something like that shoplifted candy bar 20 years ago for instance, your immunity is revoked.

So I wouldn't try and get too cute with these guys. The deck is stacked in their favor.

Don

[safeinOhio]

27. I would think

the specific question of "do you know of anyone that wants to harm others or destroy property" would cover that. My guess is you could legally ask for immunity to just that question. Might be a good idea to just tell them that you'd be more than happy to discuss anything with them as long as you may exercise your right to have an attorney present to advise you.

[Vinnie From Indy]

29. Good advice

There needs to be a distinction made in this discussion. If the FBI shows up at your door, they were tasked with interviewing you for a reason. They do not just randomly pick doors to knock on. The best advice that anyone could EVER give in this situation is to ask the agents to reschedule the interview and have your attorney present. Even then, you and your attorney can decline any interview.

It is always a bad idea to chat with police or the FBI without your attorney present if they have come to your door unannounced or without a reason you would know about in advance like witnessing a crime or something similar.

[Xithras]

30. Bingo, and that's the primary reason why she did the right thing and refused to answer.

Example:

She's at a protest. Another angry protester says he hates the government and would like to "kick their asses". She doesn't give it much thought. The FBI shows up at her door a few weeks later, asking if she knows of any threats against the government. She says no. Maybe she forgot, maybe she decided the comment wasn't worth mentioning. Either way, she sends them away.

Two weeks later, that other angry protester blows something up. During the investigation, a third protester mentions to the FBI that the terrorist had made a comment during a protest, and the FBI realizes that you failed to disclose it. You can now be charged with a federal felony and abetting terrorism.

You are MUCH better off simply saying "I decline to answer that question." Even if he blows something up later, you're safe from prosecution.

[NNN0LHI]

31. The most relative point to get from this is notice the agents great impression of Detective Colombo

FBI agents are not bumbling fools. And it will be a big mistake to assume they are.

To become a special agent one needs to be either a lawyer or a certified public accountant. These folks were not recruited from a pool of dummies.

Consider that little factoid before thinking about trying to bullshit one of them.

Don

[NNN0LHI]

32. The non-government licence plate didn't surprise me at all

I was riding to a function on the Illinois Tollway with a detective from the Cook County States Attorney office in his undercover car once when we were pulled over by a State Police officer. And boy was that trooper pissed.

Trooper came up to the detectives car foaming at the mouth and said he just ran his licence plate and the address came up something like 49527 East Monroe Street, Chicago Illinois. Well, needless to say there is no 49527 East Monroe Street. If someone followed East Monroe Street to its logical conclusion looking for 49527 they would keep driving east until they crossed over Lake Shore Drive and ended up out in the middle of Lake Michigan somewhere.

Took a little time and flashing his badge, and a phone call to his supervisor but the detective finally convinced the trooper that this was an undercover police car with bogus plates on it. Took about fifteen minutes to get that straightened out.

As a side note then when we got to the function which was at the Great Lakes Naval academy the armed guard at the gate had us pop the trunk and it looked like an armory inside. It was full of all kinds of guns and tactical gear. And this was right after 9/11. Took about an hour to get that one straightened out.

Don