Attorneys File Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Wrongful Arrest, Detention in Psych Ward of Marine Brandon RaubRutherford Institute Attorneys File Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Wrongful Arrest, Detention in Psych Ward of Marine Brandon Raub Because of Facebook Posts RICHMOND, Va. Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have filed a civil rights lawsuit against law enforcement and other government officials on behalf of Marine veteran Brandon Raub. Last August, he was arrested by a swarm of FBI, Secret Service agents and local police and forcibly detained in a psychiatric ward for a week because of controversial song lyrics and political views posted on his Facebook page. The complaint, filed in federal court in Richmond, alleges that Raubs seizure and detention were the result of a federal government program code-named Operation Vigilant Eagle that involves the systematic surveillance of military veterans who express views critical of the government. Institute attorneys allege that the attempt to label Raub as mentally ill and his involuntary commitment was a pretext designed to silence Raubs speech critical of the government and that the defendants violated Raubs rights under the First and Fourth Amendments. Since coming to Raubs defense, The Rutherford Institute has been contacted by military veterans across the country recounting similar incidents. In filing a civil suit against government officials, Rutherford Institute attorneys plan to take issue with the manner in which Virginias civil commitment statutes are being used to silence individuals engaged in lawfully exercising their free speech rights. Brandon Raubs case exposed the seedy underbelly of a governmental system that is targeting military veterans for expressing their discontent over Americas rapid transition to a police state, said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. Brandon Raub is not the first veteran to be targeted for speaking out against the government. Hopefully, by holding officials accountable, we can ensure that Brandon is the last to suffer in this way. In coming to Raubs aid, Institute attorneys challenged the governments actions as procedurally improper, legally unjustified, and in violation of Raubs First Amendment rights. On Aug. 23, Circuit Court Judge Allan Sharrett ordered Raubs immediate release, stating that the governments case was so devoid of any factual allegations that it could not be reasonably expected to give rise to a case or controversy. In asking the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to acknowledge the harm done to Raub and to rectify the violation of his First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, Institute attorneys are requesting that Raub be awarded damages for the harm caused by the deprivation of his constitutional rights. Affiliate attorneys Anthony Troy of Eckert Seamens and William H. Hurd and Stephen C. Piepgrass of Troutman Sanders LLP in Richmond are assisting The Rutherford Institute in bringing the lawsuit. CASE HISTORY August 29, 2012 August 28, 2012 August 23, 2012 August 22, 2012 August 21, 2012 August 20, 2012 LEGAL ACTION Click here to read The Rutherford Institutes complaint in Raub v. Bowen et. al.(PDF) PRESS CONTACT Nisha Whitehead linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 