USA Journal Online
UTAH COUNTY, UTAH -- The former Arizona sheriff who took the Brady Bill all the way to the Supreme Court and won, has become the target of a new joint FBI and IRS probe which so far hasn't sought to publicly charge him with any crime.
Richard Mack, who won a victory in the High Court in 1995 by having the most restrictive provisions of the Brady Bill declared unconstitutional, had his office at the American Institute of Research in Provo, Utah, raided by FBI and IRS agents at about 10am on June 18. After being interviewed by officials from both federal agencies, Mack says he is convinced the raid was not based on alleged crimes but instead was "politically motivated."
Besides, "I haven't even done anything," Mack said in a telephone interview."If I did, I'd like to know what it was."
He believes the orders for the warrants came directly from Washington, DC. Mack is currently running for sheriff of Utah County, and the raid, he said, was designed to make him a less desireable candidate in the Republican primary (which he lost on 22 June 1998).
"They're [the FBI] still mad at me for my victory over the Brady Bill," Mack said in a telephone interview."They haven't charged me with any crime. They won't even tell me why they're here, because they say the affidavits are 'sealed'."
"The winner [in the primary] will definitely win in November," Mack said. "And since I got about 50 percent of the vote" in an earlier contest which narrowed the field of potential GOP candidates a few months ago, "I think they're trying to level the field abit by making up a case against me."
"Those who are against me in the county offices have been trying to tell voters that I'm a liability because I won't work with the feds," Mack said."And yet, when I try to find out what this federal raid is all about, they say they don't know anything about it."
"Do they work with federal agents or not?" he asked.
"I have had people tell me" that Utah county officials are allegedly involved in the bogus harassment, Mack said, in an effort to keep the current sheriff, who supports federal agency involvement in the county, in office. He pointed to information he says came from an AIR client who told Mack that Jeff Robinson, a Utah county prosecutor, "was involved in this investigation."
Jeff Robinson is a partner of Doug Witney, also a county prosecutor.Mack said Witney ran against him early on for the GOP nomination and after he lost said "he would do everything in his power to bring me down." Robinson also was the co-signer on Whitney's campaign checking account.
Mack also said that Kay Bryson, the Utah county prosecuting attorney, "has been openly critical of me," and "has campaigned for Witney and then [the current sheriff] Bateman."
"Basically, that means they were investigating me and campaigning against me at the same time," Mack added.
Mack also asserted that federal agents who served the warrant would not tell him what probable cause they had for conducting the raid because the affidavit was "sealed by the court."Probable cause cannot be independently determined, Mack said, which is "blatantly unconstitutional."
Though he has no proof, Mack said he believes certain elements within some federal agencies are still upset with him because he managed to get the High Court to throw out key components of the original Brady Law. He said specific governmental elements may have worked to help his opponent in the Maricopa race -- an underdog -- steal the election from him.
The premise of Mack's original lawsuit against the Brady Act was that it forced sheriffs to conduct time-consuming and expensive gun background checks, and that was illegal.The Court agreed.
"And they've sort of been keeping an eye on me ever since," Mack said.
"If I win the election, I may not pursue this much, for now," Mack said, "because I want to be there to serve the people. But if I lose [which he did, as noted above] then I can guarantee I'll pursue another lawsuit" against those responsible for the alleged abuses against him.
"The dates on the warrants said they could have been served after the primary . . . , but instead they [the FBI and IRS] decided to serve me last week," Mack said.
He said he knew they were targeting him specifically because "my name is the only one mentioned on the warrant."
Mack had no predictions for [the primary] contest, but expressed faith that the voters would make wise choices.
©1998 USA Journal Online.
** uhuh ** The President said he is reducing taxes.
uhuh.
Congress says they are balancing the budget.
uhuh. Sez who?
and Force Congress to
Kick the Debt & Taxes Habit with
$$ Money System Honesty for Us People. $$
We demand the whole truth with an honest viewpoint.
Don't send money. Call Jo(e) Congress and send letters.
Forest Glen Durland, CEO. 14675 1/2 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070-6081
Voice: (408) 867-4410; Fax: (408)868-9446; Click here for email.
Web Home Page: www.uhuh.com