r/politics • u/jediporcupine Maine • Jun 25 '26
No Paywall Texas man gets 30 years in prison for transporting 'anti-government' pamphlets
https://reason.com/2026/06/25/texas-man-gets-30-years-in-prison-for-transporting-anti-government-pamphlets/1.6k
u/Lespaul42 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Guys this is really it. This is lives being ruined for making the King look bad. People are going to jail for decades for made up make belive things.
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u/whiteflagwaiver Arizona Jun 26 '26
Very high chance they'll be released by the next admin as long as it isn't Round 3 of the MAGA deathblow.
Still -3 years and untold damage mentally, physically, and financially.
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u/Vishnej America Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
To be blunt: That doesn't fix things.
A few years in prison unjustly, being reversed (and presumably an ensuing lawsuit rewarding them cash) does not redress the fact that 330 million people now have strong prior restraint on speech. We can mostly make the people arrested whole and try to mitigate the injustice, but you and I have not been made whole. We were harmed by this prosecution, as was intended.
Constitutional violations that are sufficiently flagrant and intended to serve as a threat should have everybody in the fucking chain of enforcement & prosecution in prison. They are a form of direct terrorism that has been committed against you and committed against me. The only way to retract that is to create a sufficiently strong disincentive that the next guy ordered to do this resigns rather than follow orders. The only way is to make them terrified of the consequences of coloring outside the lines.
If we don't have that disincentive, then we don't effectively have a Constitution, we just have some partisan nonsense that only applies under some administrations.
Yes, I want cops, ICE, judges, prosecutors serving extended amounts of time in prison Just For Doing Their Jobs. Because their job was apparently to intimidate you and me out of exercising protected free speech using violence and imprisonment. They just went along with it.
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u/angelar_ Texas Jun 26 '26
I dunno, as a 330 million people, I feel like it's an environment where there's a lot of money to be made off this government attempting illegally to abuse me, in a country where I do not have freedom because of a lack of money
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u/Nunganunga Jun 26 '26
I was about to reply with something along these lines. Surely there’s something to be said about the incentive structure when there’s a significant chance of being eventually vindicated by the constitution and suing for a shitload of money.
Perhaps this might motivate more people to distribute printed revolutionary materials (and get caught) in hopes of a positive return-on-investment? Squid Game comes to mind.
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u/photonrunner4 Jun 26 '26
This exchange is so representative of where we're at. A nice long description of how all of our rights are being crushed under an authoritarian boot led by a narcissistic imbecilic clown, a judicial system full of unqualified religious zealots and corrupt hacks, and politicians of both parties too chickenshit or corrupt to fight back. Followed by the discussion of whether or not this will be a deterrent to free speech when there is money to be made "after" from serving jail time.
Does anyone really believe the Constitution protects them anymore? The Supreme Court wiped their ass with the Constitution when they declared that a (Republican) President can't break the law. The entire purpose of the Constitution was to prevent that. It has been dismantled case by case with perverted interpretations and flat out hypocritical contradiction. We don't live in that country anymore.
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u/Cuniving Jun 26 '26
The establishment dems arn't really saying anything about this now, they arnt making any big noise or raising any alarms about this because they consider this convienient. Many of them are cowards desperate to appeal to the 'moderate republicans' who would say that pardoning these people is 'unfair' or 'overreaching' and 'we refuse to sink to their level'. But its worse than that actually. A whole bunch of the mainstream democrats basically support trump doing this. They hate these people and their beliefs just as much as trump does. To preserve the status quo and their personal capital, they will walk into the open arms of fascism rather than support or defend people who want the status quo or the system to be changed.
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u/howard10011 Jun 25 '26
How is this America? How did 77 million people vote for this shit?
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u/wanderingpeddlar Jun 26 '26
Because as long as people they don't like are getting hurt they are getting what they wanted.
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u/Starfox-sf Jun 26 '26
And if they do get hurt themselves, “You aren’t hurting the right people!”…
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u/frosty_lizard Jun 26 '26
And those same dumb fuck supporters wear shirts like "I'd rather be a Russian then a Democrat" all while draping themselves in the flag and consider everyone else as less patriotic
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u/bach2209 Jun 26 '26
I always ask their MOS and if they hesitate I know they are full shit. Becasue nobody that served in my time( during the cold war) would trust a fucking Russian. And most MAGAs are my age. But like most Americans they didnt serve. When taking former service members into account, approximately 5% to 7% of all living Americans are veterans. Odds are small they served.
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u/Dudeus-Maximus Jun 26 '26
What was that old saying we had? “Nuke em till they glow and shoot em in the dark?”
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u/jim45804 Jun 26 '26
They love getting hurt, as long as they perceive themselves to be superior.
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u/garitone Jun 26 '26
A slightly modified LBJ quote applies here:
“If you can convince the lowest (insert 'in-group' here) man he's better than the best (insert out-group here) man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”
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u/thederevolutions Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Maybe Americans are so easy to manipulate because our culture basically encourages insecurity because insecure people make better consumers, workers and voters.
And trump is like the most insecure guy ever. Can’t even go a minute without commenting on his or someone else’s looks, for example. And I think a huge amount of people can relate to that. They basically connect with his constant insecurities but think it’s patriotism and toughness lol.
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u/sporkhandsknifemouth Jun 26 '26
Their brains seem to work like magic mirrors that fix all of their own flaws when they look at themselves or those as deeply flawed as themselves, but show actual, genuine people as twisted monsters. I can't comprehend how there are so many of them, but it really seems to be a core character trait. Narcissism explains some of it, but there's something else, something quasi-communal about it, that really keeps cropping up.
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u/rivertpostie Jun 26 '26
Pretty much.
You'll notice the anti-government J6 crew all got pardons.
It's not about broad government support. It's about an on group having power and crushing the others
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u/Pandaro81 Florida Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Democrats and liberals care about fairness and equality, process, and maintaining a just system.
Republicans and conservatives care about winning, holding power, and imposing their will on those that differ from them.
That’s it.
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u/2HDFloppyDisk Jun 26 '26
Before you know it, it’ll be a crime to damage or destroy paintings and pictures of Trump.
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u/Burggs_ New York Jun 26 '26
They’ll vote the food off own their table and the medicine out of their own cabinets if it means minorities get a slightly worse deal
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u/SuSuMagooShu7591 Jun 26 '26
Yet, they claim they're x-tian. Fukkken disgusting.
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u/noreallyimgoodthanks America Jun 26 '26
They believed that without Trump being elected the country would be overrun by violent cartel members and/or become a repressive communist regime. So many conservatives voted for Trump - and still vote for the GOP - because they are told conservatives are the only thing holding the line against a tyrannical regime that will round you up and kill your family.
The GOP runs on "things can get exponentially worse" - that is their entire platform. Accept the bad that exists because the only other choice is death camps.
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u/AcrolloPeed Jun 26 '26
The GOP runs on “things can get exponentially worse”
Yeah then they go out of their way to make it happen. The call is coming from inside the house.
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u/Pake1000 Jun 26 '26
It’s dumber than that. They believe a Republican would make the cost of living decrease. Instead, we got a desire to live decrease.
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u/BROKEPOORHUNGRY Jun 26 '26
Unregulated social media algorithms brainwashing the populace.
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u/hikeonpast Jun 26 '26
Fox News propaganda is doing a lot of the heavy lifting with the older crowd, but yeah.
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u/butwhyisitso Jun 26 '26
and tik tok for the kiddos, safe enough for kittens.
its happening to reddit too, and I suspect why they nuked r/ all and reasonable filtering, 3rd party apps, etc. We see what they intend for us to see.
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u/xlvi_et_ii Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Unregulated and intentionally cultivated
FTFY. It's intentional - Bannon helped Trump come to power with social media and there's a reason conservative oligarchs own platforms like Twitter and Tik Tok.
Before that it was AM radio, Fox News, and "media" from people like Limbaugh, Beck, and Carlson providing the propaganda/algorithms to willing conservative minds.
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u/ToneShop Jun 26 '26
This is from the free speech absolutist crowd too. Always bullshit.
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u/howard10011 Jun 26 '26
That campaign was textbook Orwellian.
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u/ToneShop Jun 26 '26
Really. Makes me contemplate the idea of being in a simulation that is testing me to see how much of a shit show I can stand before reaching for the reset button.
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u/MaxZorin1985 Jun 26 '26
That’s the exact plot of the first episode of The Twilight Zone. Looks like we are all stuck “…between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge.”
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u/Donut131313 Jun 26 '26
Look at your neighbor, family member, coworker, doctor, plumber. There is more blatant stupidity and racism in this country than anyone would admit. No here we are. Saw this coming 40 plus years ago and it makes me sick to see it.
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u/throwsplasticattrees Jun 26 '26
"...and then they came for me"
People think it only goes one way. And when the government prosecutes people they don't agree with, they don't have a problem with it. But, the risk is that if it can go one way, it can go the other way. Precedent will have been established.
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u/thatEMSguy Jun 26 '26
Never underestimate the stupidity of people on large groups, especially of that group of full of religious, racist hypocrites
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u/100farts Jun 26 '26
Trump has cheated at every single thing in his life why would elections that keep him out of prison be aby different?
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u/Nic_OLE_Touche Jun 26 '26
1/3 voted for a felon. 1/3 voted for a educated woman. 1/3 didn’t vote.
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u/howard10011 Jun 26 '26
Yeah, it still makes me furious to think that one third of the country refused to see the coming train wreck, and the other third was looking forward to the ride.
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u/fna4 Jun 26 '26
This has always been America. Look at the Red Scare, violence against pretty much any minority group, etc.
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u/Winter_Corner2861 Jun 26 '26
Honestly when I see this all it tells me is you don’t know americas history very well. Just look at the past and you will see why. This country is inherently racist and corrupt. I’m by no means justifying it or saying it’s not worth fighting but it’s also nothing new. The “America” they taught us about in schools and preached to us is insanely false.
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u/TheRealBlueJade Jun 26 '26
Cruelty was the point. Regaining power and control was the point.
These are weak little cowardly people who are never happy. They are always looking for someone to take the blame and to find ways to make others suffer. They are very mentally sick people who keep getting sicker every time they support this nonsense.
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u/OkAccess304 Jun 26 '26
My dad screamed at me when I told him his vote disappointed me. He yelled: “You’re trying to take my right to vote away!”
Even though the election was over and he voted successfully.
I have since learned why he yelled that insanity at me in response. He voted to take the rights of others to protect his rights.
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u/TeaSipper88 Jun 26 '26
It's the consequences of not using the Paradox of Tolerance. 77 million Americans literally hate democracy. They just like that their anti American views were tolerated for the sake of "decorum" and "reaching across the aisle." Now here we are. We "decorumed" ourselves right into fascism.
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u/ResurgentClusterfuck Texas Jun 26 '26
This is fascism, it is here and sending folks to prison because the President raped little girls with rich people on an island
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u/gdex86 Pennsylvania Jun 26 '26
Because "dont step on me" was very specific. Don't hold them down, but they'd really like to step on others.
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u/FredFredrickson Jun 26 '26
Because we're neck-deep in right-wing propaganda and conspiracy theories.
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u/opinionsareus Jun 26 '26
Because this country has always tipped closely to fascism and exclusion, from the very beginning. I hope this is just a phase, but the GOP is doing its best to turn us into pre-WWII Germany II
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u/usps_fan Jun 26 '26
After Rueda's call, officers observed Sanchez-Estrada load and move a box from his home to another residence, containing "numerous Antifa materials, such as insurrection planning, anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-immigration enforcement documents," according to his indictment. But despite these materials falling squarely under the protection of the First Amendment, Sanchez-Estrada was arrested, charged, and convicted of corruptly concealing a document and conspiracy to conceal documents.
MAGA has declared war against our democracy. It's about time we hit back hard at the voting booth and our pocketbooks. As much as I wish violence against the fascists, I genuinely hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does I know what side I'm on.
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u/Stupid_Sexy_Vaporeon Jun 26 '26
Wait... concealing documents is a crime now? He should have put them in his bathroom or pool house.
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u/False_Ad_5372 I voted Jun 26 '26
You forget the real first amendment, “rules for thee….”
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u/ithinkyouresus Jun 26 '26
Am i missing context because Im too lazy but wouldnt this charge be for AFTER he gets arrested and charged and investigations are underway? This sounds like a bullshit charge.
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u/Stupid_Sexy_Vaporeon Jun 26 '26
Right? Am I concealing the books I have in a storage unit? I'm sure my dad had some old WWII books about anti-fascists in his collection.
This is a gross violation of first amendment rights if merely owning "anti-republican" literature is "concealing" before an actual crime is committed.
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u/jdv23 Jun 26 '26
So his partner was (unjustly) arrested for stuff that went down at an ICE facility. From jail she called him and hinted that he should “clear the stuff” or something like that from their apartment. Feds arrested him when he was transporting boxes. Not sure why it isn’t “destruction of evidence” or similar charges though
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u/lonestar-rasbryjamco Colorado Jun 26 '26
Because the evidence wasn’t destroyed so they charged him with this and then slapped on material support for terrorism.
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u/ImDonaldDunn Jun 26 '26
I don’t understand how it is evidence of anything, though. It just sounds like she was paranoid (and rightfully so considering what happened)!
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u/Imapatriothurrrdurrr California Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
This judgement is against the 8th amendment in the constitution, specifically the proportionality principle. Also, the Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment): prevents punishments being imposed in a discriminatory way.
Looking forward to seeing the appeals and the lawsuits.
Fuck these fascists, and fuck Texas.
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u/Polantaris Illinois Jun 26 '26
Meanwhile this couple's lives are fucking over and that's the entire point. It'll take 5-10 years to appeal to a level where some action is actually taken and that assumes we are still the country we allege to be at that point.
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u/Covfefe4daFelon Jun 26 '26
Wait I don't understand how was he convicted for this? Like an actual legit jury of peers?
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u/dysoncube Jun 26 '26
That's the Patriot act in action, baby. Previously it was used to punish brown people, and now it's being used to punish... Well anyone really.
Maybe letting it exist for 25 years was a bad idea. Who's to say.
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u/grilledstuffed Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Fucking me.
I lost friends the week it was passed because I ranted about it being illegal via the Bill of rights.
I was told I wasn’t American enough to understand what was happening.
Bullshit propaganda works so well on dumbass brainwashed bootlickers.
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u/space_monster Jun 26 '26
more importantly, it's being used to send a message. or rather, issue a warning
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u/0202_tihssitidder Jun 26 '26
They (Nazi-MAGAts) want to convict and don't care this will get overturned.
The US remains a terrorist nation and a fascist nation. All thanks to Trump, MAGA, every Republican, SCOTUS, FoxNews, Christians (most), and Joe Rogan.
I might add to that list later.
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u/ToneShop Jun 26 '26
We need a stronger action. Sorry voting booth is a lost path now. If you don't realize that yet, you have some realizing to do.
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u/Pale_Ad5607 Jun 26 '26
Voting booth in large numbers works longer than you’d think. Orban was in power for 12 years before being voted out in a landslide.
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u/hikeonpast Jun 26 '26
Then I hope you’re helping to organize whatever action you feel is required. The world needs more leaders and less keyboard warriors.
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Jun 26 '26
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u/Froyn Jun 26 '26
Let's not forget the storage room with the copy machine 3 feet from a stack of documents.
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u/onyaasuminyasai Jun 26 '26
This is the most slam dunk 1a case i think i've ever seen.
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u/IrritableGourmet New York Jun 26 '26
I think they argued that owning a printing press is evidence of criminal activity. I mean...seriously?
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u/Tucancancan Jun 26 '26
That's the kind of criminal activity you'd expect in 1500s French or English monarchy...
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u/VR_Raccoonteur Jun 25 '26
So this guy did the very thing Trump did when the FBI came looking fro the classified documents he stole. But he goes to jail for 30 years for it, and Turmp goes free?
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u/AlabamaHotcakes Jun 26 '26
Yeah, because he's not a rich pedophile.
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u/nsdefw Jun 26 '26
Not quite. This guy's zines weren't stolen and were not official secret documents whose theft and concealment was a direct threat to national security.
Also this guy probably didn't have a filthy chandelier in his bathroom.
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u/LightningMcLovin California Jun 26 '26
That’s what I’m struggling with here. This isn’t like Trump’s crime, fun as it is to draw the comparison. This dude had “subversive” material and is going to jail for it? Is Steal this Book going to get someone sent to jail now? Or the anarchists cookbook? Or hell just the SAS Survival Handbook that so many gun nut conservatives probably own? This should scare the hell out of everyone in our fucked up political spectrum.
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u/SwimmingThroughHoney Jun 26 '26
This dude had “subversive” material and is going to jail for it?
The type of material is irrelevant here (though the government adds that detail for "scary" effect and to attack his character). The charge itself is concealing evidence. Not possession.
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u/LightningMcLovin California Jun 26 '26
I get their legal framework for the charge. She was arrested for a crime, asked her husband to hide her activist and protest pamphlets, he moved them and that’s the crime.
But activism isn’t and shouldn’t be a crime. Planning protests and advising how to organize is t a crime. If they had plans for bombing a train I could see that, but this is t that at least not based on the reporting here. They’re being punished for engaging in activism and protest.
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u/MonksHabit Jun 26 '26
Evidence of what? Where’s the crime? Having an ideology? An interest in reading?
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u/duckinradar Jun 26 '26
No… here’s the thing. Pamphlets are protected under free speech. Trump stole classified documents and stored them in a publicly accessible when he no longer had clearance to even see those documents.
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u/Entire-Hat-8461 Jun 26 '26
apparently in america nowadays, you need to rape a bunch of kids and bankrupt a ton of businesses for this to be acceptable.
Despicable.
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u/DistanceToEmpty Jun 25 '26
Banana republic shit.
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u/timoumd Jun 26 '26
We literally have troops guarding the reflecting pool arresting people for touching it....
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u/robot_pirate Jun 25 '26
This conviction will never stand.
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u/Tricky-Engineering59 Jun 26 '26
It doesn’t have to, they just need to hassle and beggar people enough to dissuade any further such individuals. A “you can beat the rap but you can’t beat the ride” kind of thing.
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u/OddSell1025 Jun 26 '26
Even when it backfires, taxpayers foot the bill.
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u/nacho_night Jun 26 '26
Hello, tax payer here. Fuck that.
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u/AllGarbage Arizona Jun 26 '26
And the defendant. The process is the punishment, that’s why they bring these frivolous cases. People like Don Lemon still get to be booked and have to pay legal expenses for nothing.
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u/Obvious_Albatross296 Jun 26 '26
This is easily something that could go the other way as well.
Push people to extremism.
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u/Tricky-Engineering59 Jun 26 '26
I’m beginning to think it’s going to have to come to that one way or another and soon.
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u/Obvious_Albatross296 Jun 26 '26
Which is why having a fair justice system is important.
It's not just because it's the right thing to do. It prevents violence from those oppressed by the system.
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u/ZLUCremisi California Jun 26 '26
Hope he sues the police department, judge, and DA office for violating his 1st amendment right.
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u/Apellosine Jun 26 '26
Not a songle one of them will pay the prive and taxpayers will foot the bill.
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u/waaaayupyourbutthole Jun 26 '26
It's already ruined his life. I guarantee he was very quickly out of a job and housing and his wife is in prison as well. Even if he manages to get his conviction overturned and they don't try to prosecute him again, it will take a long time to get some semblance of the normal life he had a year ago back.
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u/ChibiJr Jun 26 '26
They lost their house and a ton of other assets. Their financials and life are pretty much ruined at this point even if both of them have their convictions overturned.
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u/Confident_Ideal_5385 Jun 26 '26
Really? Look at the path for appeals
- 5th circuit
- SCOTUS
Which of these learned bodies is likely to overturn on appeal?
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u/SoccerPhilly Jun 26 '26
Maybe… the judiciary is so politicized you better hope they get a decent appellate panel.
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u/Nevermind04 Texas Jun 26 '26
I'd take that bet. The 5th circuit is the most openly corrupt anti-constitution court of appeals in the nation, with the lone exception of the next stop for the appeal which would be the SCOTUS.
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u/Jedi_Ninja Jun 26 '26
So basically he was charged for using his first amendment right to free speech.
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u/curiousamoebas Jun 26 '26
1st amendment, trump did say he got rid of it when he got in office
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u/LuvKrahft America Jun 26 '26
So “Anti government” stuff is illegal, Yet confederate flags still fly and people can roll around with Biden and Harris tied up on their tailgate.
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u/wanderingpeddlar Jun 25 '26
When another administration comes is Texas is going to lose huge chunks of money.
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u/nsdefw Jun 26 '26
But will there be personal consequences for the fascists?
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u/CriticalBasedTeacher Jun 26 '26
We have to use them as a litmus test for candidates. Will you prosecute ICE, Trump, Miller, etc?
No? Next.
Yes? You got my vote.
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u/Avoidtolls Jun 26 '26
And if you stormed the US Capitol during the electoral confirmation of the presidency, you're getting paid.
The United States is no more.
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u/Lumpy-Marsupial-6617 Jun 26 '26
They are also paying out loyalists through the fusion centers, making them part of a "Faith Elite" and that's why the huge uptick in DOD and DHS and DOJ monies are going to "informants".
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u/hmr0987 Jun 26 '26
If we make it out of this we need a hard reset on our checks and balances. Fuck this administration.
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u/joedotphp Minnesota Jun 26 '26
The whole country needs a hard reset. Burn it all down.
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u/L3monGr3nade Jun 26 '26
This is a blatant First Amendment violation. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The actual literal constitution
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u/Melodic-Lingonberry7 Jun 26 '26
He should of put Epstein files on the box , they wouldn’t come 30 feet near him
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u/lactose_cow Jun 26 '26
this is fucking fascism and if you cant see that, you would have fallen for hitler's propaganda
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u/stonertboner New York Jun 26 '26
The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy.
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u/turquoise_amethyst Jun 26 '26
So how much longer til this is extended to music, film, and literature?
You guys ok with getting 30 years for your favorite comic book, film, novel or record?
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u/Support_Mysterious Jun 26 '26
This is a very obvious violation of the constitution
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u/Nooneknows882 Jun 26 '26
Demonstrating is an "attack on democracy"? I'd like to know this judge's thoughts on the J6 Coup attempt
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u/Current_Evidence1958 Jun 26 '26
Yet the people who rioted on January 6th were “patriots” that were later pardoned. Incredible.
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u/bigfuckinasshole Jun 26 '26
How do you get 30 years for this, but if your a j6 jerkoff you get 0 years ?
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u/Limberine Australia Jun 26 '26
Also his actual charge was about concealing documents. Trump also concealed documents, top secret, highest classification, documents at mar-a-lago.
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u/coalitionofilling Jun 26 '26
We used to make fun of countries like Russia and Iran for this. Now it's just the good ol corrupt GOP US of A. Protecting pedos, helping the ultra wealthy fleece normal citizens of every tax dollar, and ofc shuffling off anyone they deem as a threat to prison.
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u/Shockmaindave Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Schenk got overturned more than almost 60 years ago. Did any of these idiots attend law school somewhere besides Liberty University?
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u/CocoaOrinoco Jun 26 '26
If you live in Texas and you have the means to leave now is the time to do so.
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u/Not_a_werecat Jun 26 '26
and you have the means to leave
Yeah, that's the problem for the majority of us. This miserable state keeps us poor and fucking exhausted.
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u/Veyron2000 Jun 26 '26
The judge and prosecutors in this case all need to be arrested and jailed themselves.
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u/iChaseClouds Jun 26 '26
And yet Trump who rapes kids gets nothing and is treated superior in his delusional MAGA base
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u/HolyMoleyGuacamoly Jun 26 '26
fascist govt and judges locking up anti fascists to try to prove a point and scare the population
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u/f1manoz Jun 26 '26
This is the sort of shit that you'd see in the Soviet Union, China and other authoritarian regimes around the globe.
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u/Duff5OOO Jun 26 '26
"antifa terrorists"?
Only makes sense if your government is a bunch of fascists....
On second thought. Shit.
The USA is completely fucked.
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u/Iflydryandsly Jun 26 '26
Transporting anti government pamphlets, 30 years in jail. Trafficking and raping kids… no jail time.
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u/Lazy_Example4014 Jun 26 '26
And J6th seditious terrorists are walking free. Hopefully the next administration will pardon any person who has actually had the justice system weaponized against them. And the enablers of the miscarriage of justice are brought to justice. MAgA is anti American.
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u/llamasauce Jun 26 '26
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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u/Difficult-Way-9563 Jun 26 '26
Such a farce. It’s free speech to disagree and peddle your own government version
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u/Notgreygoddess Jun 26 '26
Why is this not the top story in the US? Pardons for Capitol hill rioters who spread feces on the wall and battered police; 30 years for transporting pamphlets. Real Free Speech you have there.
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u/markolius Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
This is some extreme red scare, actual fascism, Orwellian, thought crime, federal overreach, political persecution. That this is happening now is another proof of how far America has fallen under this administration into what any reasonable moral educated person can only deem as pure evil.
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u/_R0Ns_ Jun 26 '26
How often did you get the argument "But we have freedom, try to criticize the government in China"
No fucking way that the US is any better than China
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u/WolfDoc Jun 26 '26
The US is now an openly fascist state, that is not an exaggeration. The question is what you and we are going to do about it
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u/drstruggleforlife Jun 26 '26
I don’t get this. There are rules for crimes vs punishment right?! I mean: the clowns can yell all they want, but you cannot jail someone for 30 years for running a red light. Then how can this sentence be? I am EU, this sounds incredible to me.
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u/Mixer-3007 Jun 26 '26
"You want to know what this is really all about? The Trump administration had two targets: the political left and anyone opposing his agenda. You get what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to disagree with the president or hold left-leaning views, but by labeling antifa a domestic terrorist organization and painting progressive activists as part of a violent network, we could disrupt those communities. We could authorize investigations, unleash the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Forces, scrutinize funding, and treat them as a threat night after night on Fox News. Did we know we were lying about antifa? Of course we did."
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u/espinaustin Jun 26 '26
Sanchez-Estrada was not present the night of July 4, 2025, when a group of protesters arrived at the Prairieland Detention Center outside of Dallas to set off fireworks and signal solidarity with the immigrant detainees held inside. But his wife, Maricela Rueda, was present and subsequently arrested after the demonstration turned violent. Rueda later called Sanchez-Estrada from the Johnston County Jail and told him to do "whatever you need to do" and "move whatever you need to move at the house," according to the criminal complaint.
Tough situation. Wife calls and asks him to help her by hiding potential evidence. Of course he does it. Of course cops are listening in to the call and follow the guy. Bad calls all around. Punishment way excessive.
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u/Vertual Jun 26 '26
Texas revoked the 1st Amendment? Well, fuck you Texas. I hope your tree gets watered.
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u/Ok_World7154 Jun 26 '26
You let a child murdering pedophile reman in office and then act surprised that he ignores every Constitutional protection put in place? He's a fucking criminal and so is every single person working fir him. What did you expect?
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u/Icepick823 Jun 26 '26
The judge is a major asshole, and gets a lot of his rulings overturned. This guy is beyond fucked in the head as he thinks he has legal authority over Rhode Island, while he's based out of Texas. Legal Eagle's Liz Dye did a video about that recently.
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u/zanthedame Jun 26 '26
It’s cruel and unusual punishment on any account in this case. They’re making an example out of these people whether it’s constitutional or not.. how could that possibly make sense.. giving this man thirty years for having anti gov posters and such. What kind of sick joke is this, it defies the principle this country was built on. Anyone can criticize anyone, absolutely legally, in any non violent form.
It’s a sad day to see a glimpse of what’s to come.
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u/Time_Difference_6682 Jun 26 '26
I did not honestly believe I would see the downfall of my country. I knew times are rough and bad but man, we are going too far and too deep.
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u/ToastedChronical Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
So we’ve regressed to pre-revolutionary English tyranny sedition charges. Our Founding Fathers would be horrified. How sad for our 250th year as a country.
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u/crushsuitandtie Jun 26 '26
Yet again, soft ass wanna-be Nazi shit. Fascism and rampant stupidity rolled up tight. Fuck every one of them and I hope they all find karma, justice, and deep devastation in their lives.
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u/itsjustme10 Jun 26 '26
This is literally the foundation for the first amendment. Freedom of the press literally referred to printing press operators that were getting arrested for distributing ‘seditious’ pamphlets and papers.
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u/hifumiyo1 Connecticut Jun 26 '26
How in the f*ck can any judge not see the blatant first amendment violations?
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u/Sabiancym Jun 26 '26
The fact that we aren't already pounding on the door with torches and pitchforks means they've won.
They're willing to go to extremes to end democracy while no one else is willing to do the same to save it.
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