My name is Christian_Peper. I am an independent journalist and activist. The United States government used both local and federal law enforcement to harass and attempt to frame me for exercising free speech rights. Rather than investigate a crime that had occurred, law enforcement investigated me and my writings in violation of the most basic Constitutional guarantees. When the government decides to investigate individuals instead of crimes, all have cause for worry. Even more troubling, the government has investigated my protected political free speech in an attempt to link me to a “crime” I believe elements of the federal government have staged.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2007, I, Christian_Peper, took a picture of a military recruiting center to enhance my web site / blog. The US Army recruiters, without any police power whatsoever, stalked and harassed me, violating my most basic civil rights.
I strongly recommend reading the article detailing my abuse at the hands of US Army recruiters. This article of mine entitled “Military Recruiters Stalked and Harassed Me for Taking a Picture” can be found through an internet search.
The following events occurred months after I was stalked and harassed by US Army recruiters for taking a picture on public property. The following events are a chilling glimpse of just how the United States government deals with dissenters under the new “War on Terror”.
On May 8, 2007 at 1:15 pm:
Three men came to one of my family’s apartments (We have more than one.). My brother was home at the time and looked out the peep hole but did not open the door or respond to them because he did not know who they were. After the men left my brother talked to our apartments “door man” who sits at the front desk of the apartment complex.
The door man told my brother three men who were law enforcement agents were asking what floor he lived on. After talking to the door man who did not know what floor we were on, the three men then went over to the land lord to ask what floor my brother was on.
There was no reason for the men to visit both the man at the front desk and the land lord and ask for my brother before coming to the actual apartment door. The reason this was done was to embarrass both me and my family. This was done only to harass and soil our name because the men had the apartment number already. In addition, asking for my brother instead of myself, Christian_Peper, was done as a cheap ploy to attempt to put additional pressure on me. Because the new “War on Terror” gives both local and federal law enforcement unprecedented power over the new slave class (the American people) embarrassing “suspects” is a regular occurrence. I later learned from my first lawyer, Mike Knack, that the three men were one detective from St Louis County named Mike (He also goes by Michael) Reis and two FBI agents. It is strange that Detective Mike (Michael) Reis would participate in an operation of this nature because he is a county detective and I live in the city limits of St Louis.
On May 9, 2007 at about 8:30am:
Detective Mike (He also goes by Michael) Reis knocked on my family’s apartment door again. My Mother did not answer the door. A few minutes later he called on my mom’s cell phone and asked her why she did not answer the door. My mother said “I never answer my door if I don’t know who it is”.
Detective Mike Reis then said that he wanted to ask me, Christian_Peper, questions.
He said that there was an “incident” on Lindell and a picture was put on my (Christian_Peper’s) web site. He said he was investigating an old case regarding something similar on another web site.
Detective Mike Reis then told my mother that he wanted to question me, Christian_Peper, regarding an incident in Webster Groves. Detective Mike Reis said that he had seen the picture of the Army recruitment center on Liddell blvd (in St Louis city) on my web site / blog and wanted to ask me if I knew or saw anything regarding an incident that took place In Webster Groves (a suburb of St Louis) in August of 2006. Then detective Mike Reis said that there were no warrants out for me and I was not in any trouble. My mother then informed the detective that no one would speak to him without an attorney present.
On May 10, 2007:
Detective Mike Reis appeared at my father’s office unannounced and asked to speak with his son, Christian_Peper. My father told the detective that I was represented by Attorney Mike Nack (His full name is Michael R. Nack), who would contact him regarding this matter.
On June 2, 2007 at about1 pm:
I, Christian_Peper, went to see my lawyer, Mr. Mike Nack (His full name is Michael R. Nack), in his Clayton, MO law office. He stated that one St. Louis County Police Detective named Mike Reis and 2 yet unnamed FBI agents were inquiring about me. Although no warrant had been issued, Lawyer Mike Nack warned me about the strong possibility of a “pickup order”. He said that if I get pulled over for something mundane like a speeding ticket or running a stop light I might be handcuffed and pulled in for questioning. Lawyer Mike Nack also warmed me that the government often sets people up and interrogates people even after they ask for a lawyer. Lawyer Mike Nack informed me that detective Mike Reis said that 2 kerosene bomb devices with wicks (not lit) were found at an Army recruiting center in Webster Groves (a suburb of St Louis). This strikes me as is a strange story because I read the local news very diligently and I saw nothing about this in the news. Detective Mike Reis also told my mother he was investigating something relating to my web site / blog. Why this deception by St Louis County police detective Mike Reis? Is the government now planting bombs to frame people? Lawyer Mike Nack and I agreed that he would schedule a meeting with Detective Mike Reis so that I can avoid a “pick up” order because it is well known that law enforcement personnel (both federal and local) no longer respect the constitutional rights of suspects.
On Monday, June 11, 2007:
I met with Lawyer Mike Nack at the St Louis county courthouse in Clayton and went into a conference room. Lawyer Mike Nack left the room to bring in detective Mike Reis and his associate, BATF agent Dave Whittaker. The men entered the room. The seating arrangement was: My lawyer was to the right of me and detective Mike Reis and the BATF agent were across the table from me. I was seated facing the BATF agent. The following is a transcription of the interview I, Christian_Peper, recorded from a tape recorder I had running in my pocket: {Important Note: I have posted the audio clip on several sites (like “You Tube”), do a web search of my name to listen to the audio.}
The interview started at approximately 12:15 PM:
Lawyer Mike Nack: Ok, this is Christian_Peper.
Detective Mike Reis: Mike Reis, How you doing bud? (Note: The detective holds out his hand and I do not shake it.)
Christian_Peper: Got your card?
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: Dave Whittaker from ATF.
Christian_Peper: Got your card?
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: No I don’t. (Note: Why would an ATF agent not be willing to give me a card? Did the BATF agent give me a false name?)
Christian_Peper: Ok, what’s your first name?
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: Dave.
Christian_Peper: If you could write it down.
(Note: He briefly mentally considers this, picks up the pen then stops just as he is about to do so then drops it. This either indicates that he gave a fake name or he is being rude to me.)
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: Ok, then you can write it down.
Christian_Peper: How do you spell your last name?
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: W- h-i-t-a-k-e-r
Christian_Peper: t-i
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: a-k-e-r
Christian_Peper: Ok, W-h-i-t-i
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: No, t-t-a-k-e-r (Note: This is one more “t” than before. Was the BATF agent giving me a false name?)
Christian_Peper: I’m sorry. W-h-i-t-t
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: a-k-e-r It’s ok, relax.
Christian_Peper: And…I..I didn’t get his card. (Note: I was referring to Mike Reis’s card that he gave to my lawyer.)
Lawyer Mike Nack: I got it, I got it. Here, do you want to write it down?
Christian_Peper: No, I'd like his card. (Note: My lawyer handed me Mike Reis’s card.) Christian_Peper: Thanks.
Detective Mike Reis: Relax. We’re not here over anything big.
Lawyer Mike Nack: And I’m here, I’m here, ok, you know that.
Detective Mike Reis: You know, we just.. we want to meet somewhere…so…nice… not a big deal….
Detective Mike Reis: I guess you understand why we’re here?
Christian_Peper: No I don’t.
Detective Mike Reis: Well first of all, pictures of, on your website, ok, ... understand.. no.. freedom of speech, no big deal.. ok, took off running.. anytime there.. anything happens at a military base or, federal places like that we have to follow up on it, k, you understand that? You understand?
Christian_Peper: Why else are you here?
Detective Mike Reis: Ok we’ll, I get to that, you know, I’m just trying to have a conversation. Your not, your not under any indictments, no charges, nothing, all right now we just want to talk to you about something if your not going to talk to um, your waisting my time kay, .. I assure your attorney everything we’re going to talk about, and were hoping were gonna get some cooperation.
Lawyer Mike Nack: And I, and I, my understanding is that detective is that he’s, he is a, cooperating and he’s willing to answer questions, but, I don’t think its going to be real conversational. I think is going to be….
Detective Mike Reis: Can we get yes or no answers?
Lawyer Mike Nack: Oh yah, and maybe even a little more than that but I don’t, I don’t think its going to be very conversational.
Christian_Peper: I like your shirt by the way.
(Note: I was nervous at the time; this is why I made the silly comment about the detective Mike Reis’s shirt.)
Detective Mike Reis: Oh, are you a Parrot head? (Note: Parrot Head is an affectionate term for those who are fans of Jimmy Buffet’s music.)
Christian_Peper: (Note: Nervous laughter.)
Detective Mike Reis: Parrot head?
Christian_Peper: Parrot head? What’s that?
Detective Mike Reis: Parrot head.. A Jimmy Buffet, Jimmy Buffet fan.
Christian_Peper: Yah, he’s, he’s ok.
Detective Mike Reis: All right, basically, why were you taking pictures of the recruiting office?
Lawyer Mike Nack: You can tell him the same thing you told me.
Detective Mike Reis: He told me what you said I just want to hear it from you.
We can go back and make a report, because when people take pictures of federal interests, independent incidents, we’ve learned that people, ah, bad guys do home work before they do some thing, ok? And also tourists take pictures of things too. So were trying to find out is Christian a bad guy or is he a regular old person, you know, what, were just trying to find out who you are and what, what, what’s going on. I mean, were just trying to find out what’s going on.
Lawyer Mike Nack: Ok, let me, let me suggestion .. I warn you and I advise you to tell them just like you told me that you photographed their recruiting center from their street
Christian_Peper: Specifically, what crime are you investigating? Specifically, what crime are you investigating?
Lawyer Mike Nack: Christian listen, listen.
Christian_Peper: What crime are you investigating specifically, that’s what I’m asking.
Detective Mike Reis: Were leading up to it.
Christian_Peper: Ok, well, go ahead, what crime are you investigating?
Detective Mike Reis: Well there’s no crime in taking pictures at the recruiting office, we just want-a know why you did it.
Lawyer Mike Nack: And there is absolutely no reason not to tell them exactly what you told me.
Detective Mike Reis: I mean, If you’ve got, you’ve got a political agenda that’s, that’s against, that’s different from the government so what who cares. You just tell us that and that’s fine there’s nothing wrong with that.
Christian_Peper: Ok, what you just said.
Detective Mike Reis: Ok, but, then why, why would you want to take pictures of it though? I mean that’s, that’s a legitimate question.
Christian_Peper: Dude, its .. a hobby it’s a , you know as a, as a blog, as a writer, you know you, you have something to go with it.
Detective Mike Reis: So your writing something and you want to put a picture with an article. Ok, just an enhance your website type a deal.
Lawyer Mike Nack: I know they want to hear it out of your mouth but that’s exactly what you told me.
Detective Mike Reis: If we come back and say that the attorney said it it’s different then if you said it. That way I can, we can write a report that says that we talked to this guy, this guy said this, that’s a fact. What he says through you is not a fact, that’s hearsay
Christian_Peper: So , in a way, I’m like a reporter.
Detective Mike Reis: Ok. And you were doing an article or something about the recruiting station, just for your website or were you writing a paper for school, or a newspaper or just for you website?
Christian_Peper: We have freedom to take pictures.
Detective Mike Reis: Yah..You can take all the pictures you want.
Christian_Peper: So, so what a, what specific crime are you investigating?
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: Why did you take off running when, a, they asked you why?
Christian_Peper: Ok I’m, I’m here asking what crime your investigating and your not giving me the answer.
Detective Mike Reis: We’ll, we’ll get to that in a minute, but I need some stuff to go with it to why….
Christian_Peper: You’re not answering, your not answering, he’s not answering the question what crime he’s investigating.
Lawyer Mike Nack: Listen to me, I’m your attourney, listen to me.
Christian_Peper: Ok
Lawyer Mike Nack: Give us, give us some, give us some time. Answer a couple questions. These are legitimate questions you’ve already answered them for me in my office and the answers are the truth, tell them the truth.
Christian_Peper: Ok what was the question?
Detective Mike (Michael) Reis: Why did you take off running?
Lawyer Mike Nack: He’s not accusing you of anything, he’s just asking you why you took off running and you told me in the office what the story was; and I’ll tell you something else, if I was standing in your shoes I would have took off running too. So you just told..
Christian_Peper: Intimidation.
Detective Mike Reis: You were intimidated?
Christian_Peper: Yah
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: By what?…What does that mean? I don’t understand…
Christian_Peper: Well, if, if you’re not going to tell me what crime you are investigating this interview is over. You can put me in cuffs, I’m leaving.
So is this inter..is this..are.. (Note: This was a very high tension moment.)
BATF Agent Dave Whittaker: Are you on medication?
Christian_Peper: Ok, I’m not going to answer any more questions, do you understand? So unless you tell me what crime you are investigating I’m walking. What crime are you investigating? (Note: A pause.) No crime. Good bye.
Christian_Peper: If your not going to tell me what crime you are investigating good bie.
Christian_Peper: And he is my witness, that I’ve taken the 5th. I take the 5th from this point forward. Good bye.
The reader will note that at no time in the interview did the mention of a crime take place. They were investigating me, Christian_Peper, and not a crime.
I find it telling that the actions of the US Army recruiters were not investigated by Detective Mike Reis or federal law enforcement officials. Because the American people are seen as some how criminal and government agents can do no wrong this occurred. Federal and Local law enforcement have not investigated the numerous death threats that have been made against me either because of my writings.
One can see from the transcript that Detective Mike Reis thinks his time is very valuable because he is a member of the privileged “law enforcement” class. Examine this quote from detective Mike Reis: “ all right now we just want to talk to you about something if your not going to talk to um, your waisting my time”. Did you ever think about waisting my time Detective Mike Reis or is your time so much more important than mine because I am part of the American citizen slave class?
Both Detective Mike Reis and BATF agent Dave Whittaker (if that was his real name) were taking orders from those in the federal government that wish to silence my voice. Detective Mike Reis, BATF agent Dave Whittaker (if that is your real name) , Come clean. Already too many Americans have become political prisoners after being framed for crimes***.
Mike Reis claimed (I was told by my lawyer) that two bomb devices with unlit wicks were found at an army recruiting center in Webster Groves (a suburb of St. Louis) in August of 2006. Are agents of the federal government now in the business of making homemade bombs? Will these bombs be used to kill innocent civilians or as an excuse to enact more draconian police state measures?
If you, Detective Mike Reis or BATF Agent Dave Whittaker, have knowledge of an attempted frame up of me, Christian_Peper, or any other journalist / activist, then you have a responsibility to your office to come forward. If either Detective Mike Reis, BATF agent Dave Whittaker or any other Federal agent has knowledge of government sponsored terrorism, all of humanity demands you come forward with what you know.
Instead of surfing the internet, investigating journalists, detective Mike Reis should spend his time trying to solve some of the many unsolved homicides in the St Louis area.
Sure, fighting the “War on Terror” sounds glamorous, but in the end it is simply a war on the people. While most of America struggles to pay rent, it is disturbing indeed that the over paid members of “law enforcement” (our masters) dominate us (the slave class) and investigate dissent instead of real crimes.
The federal government attempted to frame me, Christian_Peper, as a bomb planting terrorist. The government was investigating me, not a crime. The federal government attempted to frame me because they want to silence my voice for speaking out against high level corruption.
I have no animosity towards either Detective Mike (Michael) Reis or BATF agent Dave Whittaker (if that is his real name). These men were taking orders from those in the Federal Government that wish to silence my voice and halt my pen.
Government agents cannot understand that someone would dare engage in independent thinking. The arrogant, hateful, BATF agent asked me himself “Are you on medication?”. Criticism of those in “Authority” is seen as something dirty, immoral, and criminal in the new America. I pray that these men will see the error of their ways and work to restore the constitution.
The international community should withdraw all investments in American corporations and US Treasury Bills as a sign of solidarity with American political prisoners.***
Because I am an independent journalist that dares to expose governmental corruption, the government will continue to attempt to put me behind bars. What happened to me can happen to any American under the new “War on Terror”.
***{The following names represent just some of America’s political prisoners: Fritz Springmeyer, Matt Hale, Irwin Schiff, Steve Kubby, Leonard Peltier, and Mumia abu Jamal. We must not rest until the true criminals in government face justice.}
{Important Note: I have posted the audio clip of the courthouse interview on several sites (like “You Tube”). Try this link to listen to the audio clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bk05tC5LTg
If this link goes down just do a web search of my name to find and listen to the audio.}
Please listen to the audio clip of the interview at the courthouse. Like my article says, I have posted the audio clip of the courthouse interview on several sites (like “You Tube”). If this link goes down just do a web search of my name to find and listen to the audio.
Try this link to listen to the audio clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bk05tC5LTg
As has been said several times on every one of your many blogs regarding this issue:
You are not in the clear and were not completely and totally justified in your actions.
Taking a picture of a military installation is not the same as taking a picture of public property. NOT THE SAME. They had every right to question you and your purpose for taking the pictures.
But instead of letting them question you and ask your purpose - you took off running and developed some story of how they harrassed you by taking down your license plate number.
You were suspicious. You were acting in a suspicious manner, doing suspicious things, and curtailed and ran away when you got caught..
Perhaps they have over-reacted - but they had every right - and DUTY - to react to your behavior.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
Fanaile Essence,
A-Team Member
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Did somebody say... conspiracy theory?
This is not your first, nor, I am sure, will it be your last. I suppose there's not a lot of use in pointing this out... but these horrible government agents you describe are people just like you and me (well, maybe not just like you). They have families and friends, and it's just a job. An important job, and maybe one that means a lot to them, but they are certainly not going to harass an innocent person. Think about that.
"They have families and friends, and it's just a job. An important job, and maybe one that means a lot to them, but they are certainly not going to harass an innocent person. "
Firstly, it's not 'just a job' to many agents, it's a passion, one that shapes their reality very differently to most people who have 'just-a-jobs'.
Secondly, if you are going to insinuate that conspiracy theory is beneath you, then don't highlight your naievity by saying things like "they are certainly not going to harass an innocent person" in reference to Federal Agents. It makes it seem as if you are trying to be clever, distancing yourself from conspiracy theorists, suggesting that you are a no-nonsense factual kinda individual, but then whammo, you demonstrate a level of naivety that makes you look more like the opposite side to the most insatiable crackpot theorists coin.
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
Have you ever met a Federal Agent?
Just because someone has a job that they are passionate about, that is important to them, does NOT mean that they will feel inclined to be unjust in the face of difficult circumstances. I feel very insulted by your insinuation that I am naive because I choose to see people in a positive light. If you take the time to read my blog, I think you will realize I am a very well-informed person, and I never write about anything I haven't thoroughly researched.
And, yes, I do choose to distance myself from the typical "conspiracy theorist" because in my experience is that after careful consideration their opinions and positions fall completely apart, and are in essence unwarranted, unfounded, and utterly ridiculous.
"does NOT mean that they will feel inclined to be unjust in the face of difficult circumstances."
Different people have different ideas of what constitutes unjust. Besides, you are stating this as fact, which you clearly have no way of evidencing. Whereas it's not hard to find evidence to support the claim that some Federal Agents use underhand and unjust measures as a means to an end.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR200510...
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/10/fbi_abuses_of_t_1.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0617-01.htm
"I feel very insulted by your insinuation that I am naive because I choose to see people in a positive light."
When you consider what horrible things people have done over the years, to hold everybody in a positive light until proved otherwise is naieve, especially if you do it to the point where you end up focusing only on the good Federal Agents do and then just flat out denying the bad as if it didn't exist, as if it was nothing more than conspiracy theory.
"And, yes, I do choose to distance myself from the typical "conspiracy theorist" because in my experience is that after careful consideration their opinions and positions fall completely apart, and are in essence unwarranted, unfounded, and utterly ridiculous."
Are you going to try and tell me that you've read through and conclusively debunked every conspiracy theory floating around out there? Conspiracy theories are like most things, in that they vary in quality. To think you are above conspiracy theory is kind of like throwing the baby out with the bathwater, some are very interesting and whether or not they are correct, some of the thinking behind some of them is to be applauded. Great scientists speculate wildly all the time and are often wrong, that doesn't mean they are crap scientists and that their work has no value, it just means their hypothesis was incorrect.
_____________________________________________________________
I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
a) I agree that not all people are good. HOWEVER, I like to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. Just because SOME federal agents have done bad things, doesn't make them ALL bad. That's like saying that ALL men are bad because SOME men have raped women. Therefore, I will give any person I meet, federal agent or not, the respect they deserve as a person, until they prove to be a "bad" federal agent, at which time I will discount them and move on with my life.
b) Why should I have to debunk conspiracy theorists? It's THEIR job to convince ME, and not a single one has done so yet. If you can show me a valid "conspiracy theory", then I'm open-minded enough to believe it. Don't try to spoon feed me a bunch of bull and expect me to eat it though, because it's going to come flying right back in your face.
c) I like speculation. Speculation based in reality. I'm an engineer; my life is based on trying new and sometimes seemingly crazy things, and figuring out whether they work or not. I like that stuff, it's fun and interesting, and it excites my brain. And that's all I have to say about that.
" I like to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. Just because SOME federal agents have done bad things, doesn't make them ALL bad."
Better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with Federal Agents. If they're good ones, they will take no offence to your distrust. When you are dealing with agents it is best to be wary and keep your wits about you, presuming that they're good guys means that your guard is going to be down, and if they turn out to be bad guys and you've slipped up, then the consequences could be pretty stiff. Stiff enough for somebody to be wary of people in such positions of authority.
Any book about propaganda or persuasion will tell you to be wary of authority figures, as percieved authority figures inspire confidence and that confidence might not be well placed. Simply because somebody is apparently in a position of authority, that doesn't mean that they are good or even just, it also doesn't mean that they won't trick you into giving them more authority than they normally would have by law simply by leading you into saying things that give them further rights to compromise your privacy or your freedom..
"That's like saying that ALL men are bad because SOME men have raped women."
I never said all agents were bad, I said there are bad agents who exploit innocent people. You are the one who said that no Federal agents do this kind of thing.
"Therefore, I will give any person I meet, federal agent or not, the respect they deserve as a person, until they prove to be a "bad" federal agent, at which time I will discount them and move on with my life. "
Just what a manipulative persuader wants to hear. Hell, they don't even need to work a foot in the door, you've left it wide open, they can save their energy to make the pitch from your living room. It's hard to move on with your life if you find out too late that you've been duped by the wrong person. A confidence trickster could leave you broke and emotionally devastated, a crooked cop could leave you in prison.
"Why should I have to debunk conspiracy theorists? It's THEIR job to convince ME"
Just because they've failed to convince you, that doesn't necessarily mean that their work is bad. Propaganda can convince people more effectively than truth anyway, that's why advertising is by and large a persuasive medium, not an informative one. Millions of Christians are convinced that the Bible is the perfect word of God, despite the fact that it is clearly far from perfect and is laced with contradictions and hypocrisy. What's to blame here, the idea that the Bible is not the perfect word of God being a complete crackpot conspiracy theory theory or perhaps propaganda just holds more sway when it comes to convincing people..
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tuffgong
I think it is only fair for us to agree to disagree. Thank you for this interesting and mind opening discussion.
Kate
Journalists are being called terrorists and framed for crimes.