North Carolina Republicans create a "secret police force"

North Carolina’s new $30 billion state budget contains a provision that gives extraordinary investigative powers to a partisan oversight committee co-chaired by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R).

The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations — or Gov Ops for short — is empowered to seize “any document or system of record” from anyone who works in or with state and local government during its investigations.

The rule applies to contractors, subcontractors, and any other non-state entity “receiving, directly and indirectly, public funds,” including charities and state universities. 

Moreover, Gov Ops staff will be authorized to enter “any building or facility” owned or leased by a state or non-state entity *without a judicial warrant*.

👉This includes the private residences of subcontractors and contractors who run businesses out of their homes, lawmakers say.

Alarmingly, public employees under investigation will be required to keep all communication and requests “confidential.” 👉 They cannot alert their supervisor of the investigation nor consult with legal counsel.
Violating this rule “shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal,” the law reads.

Those who refuse to cooperate face jail time and fines of up to $1,000.

In the event that Gov Ops searches a person’s home, these rules mean that the person
👉 1) must keep the entry a secret,
👉 2) cannot seek outside help (unless necessary for fulfilling the request, the law says), and
👉 3) could face criminal charges if Gov Ops deems them uncooperative
https://popular.info/p/north-carolina-republicans-create

The far-right Christian group that destroyed Roe v. Wade is now aiming to roll back birth control and LGBT rights.

Important New Yorker report here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/09/alliance-defending-freedoms-legal-crusade

Ignoring the law is the new orange.

Heidi Przybyla:

NEWS: 👇Leonard Leo, architect of SCOTUS majority, says he will not cooperate w DC AG tax probe

"while 1 of Leo’s primary aligned groups had been incorp in VA for nearly 20 yrs, for at least a decade it was using UPS drop box in DC Georgetown neighborhood as principal office address.

It also didnt include fact that The 85 Fund quietly relocated in recent mos from the capital area to TX amid the investig"

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/03/brian-schwalb-arabella-investors-00119751

More Supreme Court corruption: "John Roberts and Samuel Alito own shares of companies that could score billions in tax relief from the outcome of Moore v. United States."

From The Lever (which, sigh, doesn't have a Mastodon presence): https://www.levernews.com/justices-have-financial-interest-in-major-tax-case/

🤦🏻‍♀️WELP! 1/...

#Texas Attorney General Ken #Paxton acquitted in #impeachment trial

Paxton was impeached for allegedly taking bribes, but ultimately members of his party chose not to vote for his conviction and removal from office.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-acquitted-impeachment-trial-rcna104816