For Immediate Release:                                                                           August 23, 2012

Contact: Mark Daugherty                                                                                      540-885-5627
Email: trail100liberty@gmail.com                                                                      540-255-1431

Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation Supports Brandon Raub’s Free Speech Rights, Applauds His Release, And Demands An Investigation

(Richmond, VA) – “The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation VTP condemns the August 16th detention and mental health facility incarceration of former U.S. Marine, Brandon Raub, a resident of Midlothian, Virginia, by FBI, U. S. Secret Service, and Chesterfield Police officers,” said Mark Daugherty, VTP Chairman.

Federal and local officials did not charge Mr. Raub with any crime, yet they hauled this honorable Virginia resident off to the John Randolph Medical Center on August 16th, and then later transferred him to a psychiatric ward at the Salem Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.  Federal government officials were concerned about a Facebook post by Mr. Raub yet admitted freely that he had committed no crime.

American citizens create millions of Facebook posts and e-mails, send billions of text messages and express their free speech in innumerable other ways every day, each protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The 4th Amendment demands that American citizens be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search and seizures. The 5th Amendment protects life, liberty, and property, without due process of law.  “Government officials and unelected mental health bureaucrats have trampled on Mr. Raub’s God-given, Constitutional rights,” Mr. Daugherty said.

Mr. Daugherty added, “We applaud Mr. Raub’s release and look forward to his safe return to his home. Furthermore, we encourage Virginians to contact their local delegate and senator, along with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and Governor Bob McDonnell’s offices to investigate the actions of the federal agents, the Chesterfield Police Department and the local magistrate. Mr. Raub was released upon orders from a circuit court judge because the original petition ‘contained no facts.’”

“The Chesterfield Police Department is further alleged by Mr. Raub’s attorney’s to have violated Virginia Code 37.2-808 in its treatment of him. Given that the proper role of government is to protect its citizens’ God-given rights and the seriousness of this charge, it is imperative that the actions of the Chesterfield Police Department be investigated, and any wrong doing prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Mr. Daugherty said.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation supports Mr. Raub’s constitutional rights and the rights of all individuals, especially those we may disagree with. The 1st Amendment protects free speech rights, whether that speech is popular or not.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is a coalition of 40 independent Tea Party and Patriot groups that stand for fiscal responsibility, Constitutionally-limited government, and free market principles.

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