May 28, 2009 06:52 PM UTC

Ken Buck's Legal Bills

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• by: dlof

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Last October, Weld County District Attorney (and, dare I say, lackluster, Senate Candidate), Ken Buck, raided Amalia’s Tax Service in Greeley.  He was looking for evidence that undocumented aliens were using other people’s social security numbers to file taxes and receive refunds.

The ACLU filed suit against Buck, as well as Weld County Sheriff, John Cooke, in January.  They successfully argued that Buck’s search warrant violated the 4th Amendment by not detailing, particularly, the persons and items that were being sought.

Today, the Tribune, has revealed that this fight has cost taxpayers almost $100,000.  And this does number does not include attorney’s fees related to the case’s pending Colorado Supreme Court appeal (and the likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court).

The whole business around this case has me confused.  A few weeks ago, didn’t the U.S. Supreme Court rule that in order to successfully prosecute ‘identity theft’ against someone using another person’s social security number, the prosecution has to demonstrate that the offender actually knew the number was another person’s.  If he simply makes one up, prints a face SS card, works under the number, he did not steal an identity.

So, the ACLU has successfully had “Operation Numbers Game” halted under the 4th Amendment.  SCOTUS has said that the prosecution will have to prove intent w/re the identity theft charge, even if the ACLU loses on appeal.  What’s Buck doing here?

Is this a taxpayer-funded campaign event?