Steve Bierfeldt
The show-me state made the news recently when the Missouri Information Analysis Center, a state-federal law-enforcement partnership, released an inflammatory report alleging that libertarians, constitutionalists, supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, and other people skeptical of powerful government should be considered as potential terrorists-in-the-making. The controversial document has since been withdrawn, but you have to wonder when a twenty-something official with Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty gets rousted by TSA agents in the St. Louis airport for carrying ... cash.
Steve Bierfeldt, Director of Development for the organization, kept his cool during the encounter. We know that because he activated the recording function on his cell phone and captured almost all of the incident for posterity. The TSA agents harangued him for asking what his legal rights were while he was questioned in a detention room. They accused him of behaving "like a child" when he simply wanted to know whether he was legally compelled to answer certain questions.
The apparent cause of the encounter was Bierfeldt's possession of roughly $4,700 in cash, the take from sales of books, T-shirts and merchandise at a regional conference in the city.
Is it any of the TSA's business that Bierfeldt was carrying cash? (What? Was he going to pummel the stewardess with a roll of twenties?)
And it's revealing that the agents were apparently offended that their detainee politely inquired into his own rights instead of instantly submitting.
Andrew Napolitano at Fox News has part of the recording along with some background information.
By the way, I'll lay odds that the comments in the ear of the TSA types by the supposed undercover FBI agent who intervened to release Bierfeldt included the words, "Just how stupid are you?"
email J.D.: civilliberties (at) tuccille.com
Civil Liberties Examiner is now on Facebook!
Or follow the latest civil liberties news on Twitter: Libertywriter
Comments
I'm surprised that they didn't just steal the money. I'm pretty sure they regularly steal from travelers.
Or maybe the FBI guy wanted his cut of any cash forfeited (stolen) to the TSA?
this is what happens when idiots are given to much power and then serve of everyone living in fear of the boogey man.
Unfortunately, too many of these stories do not identify just who the brownshirts thugs are. If the media is truly to be a watchdog of govt abuse, they need to start naming the abusers. If there's no personal cost, there is no incentive to stop misbehaving, because odds are they'll get away with it most of the time.
I am curious what is the dividing line between a "normal" amount of cash and a "suspicious" amount of cash.
Of course you do not dare deposit more than ten grand in your bank account during a month; this will have the IRS and the DEA on your back, right quick.
Timmy O'Tool writes, "this is what happens when idiots are given to much power...."
IRS, Department of Motor Vehicles, Building and Safety, Code Compliance, Business Permits, Franchise Tax Board, government offices...
I cannot recall ever dealing with a civil servant who was not an ignorant control freak, written in quadruplicate carbon copy, of course.
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
OT wonders: "I am curious what is the dividing line between a "normal" amount of cash and a "suspicious" amount of cash."
In order to promote a cashless system the threshold level appears to move ever lower. The greed associated with government theft of cash-called forfeiture-also works to driver the level lower.
The purpose of a cashless system is total elimination of transactional privacy-for our own protection, of course...
My SO works at a bank. She confirms that the $10,000 cash figure requires filing a Currency Transaction Report (CTR), though the amount can be less if the customer behaves suspiciously, or has multiple transactions-amounting to $10,000 or more-spread out over time. This could be an entirely innocent behavior, or done in order to avoid the bank filing a report to the IRS-how does one tell the difference? And, who among us wouldn’t wish to avoid being brought to the attention of the IRS? In any event, attempting to avoid reporting requirements has been made a felony 'crime', called "structuring". The amount can be considerably less too, dependent upon variable notions of what constitutes ‘suspicion’. If noticed by bank personnel, they are required to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR).
The federal crime of Structuring:
Structuring means breaking transactions larger than $10,000 into smaller increments by making multiple deposits or withdrawals or by buying cashiers' checks, money orders, or other monetary instruments for the express purpose of evading the reporting requirements. These reports, required by the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)1 and the Internal Revenue Code,2 must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service every time a transaction involving more than $10,000 in cash is carried out with a financial institution.
Our financial privacy is tossed out the window under a law with the Orwellian name of the Bank Secrecy Act.
The 'secrecy' protects the privacy of banks and the government, rather than the individual; it is also a felony for bank personnel to advise customers that their proposed financial transaction will be subject to being reported to the IRS.
And, it gets worse…
My SO tells me that the purchase-with cash-of cashiers checks at levels of $3,000 or greater are reportable, as are purchases-with cash-of bank gift debit cards of only $1,000 or more.
Interestingly, all this information is collected by a government that is financially unaccountable to the people it supposedly serves.
Bank personnel are turned into a sort of police and spy combination (sounds very ‘Soviet’ to me…). While most appear to be OK with it; some, like my SO, hate being forced to be a snitch. She says most of the people reported on are just regular folks, like people withdrawing large amounts of their money because of worries about banks and the economy.
We’d better prioritize worrying about overbearing Big Brother government…
And doing something about it.
The 10 k limit is for reporting purposes from Clinton's Drug war. Remember that forfeiture was getting popular then. These TSA police had no training in 4th and 5th amendment issues and it showed. Steve should have stated that he is not required to answer under the consitution and then been quiet. He was refusing to answer and it was foolish for him to say he was not refusing. They have a right to ask and he has a right not to answer. The FBi guy was smarter by looking thru the checks and figuring it was campaign cash and telling Steve to leave. THe FBI was not going to be held responsible for detaining a campaign worker of Ron Paul the consitutionalist.
Well, the gross generalizations due to prejudices are just FLYING around.
First off, most of the talk done after the "kick the plate" is done by the local law enforcement and NOT the TSA.
Second, no, you don't have to answer the questions or do anything the (actual) TSA asks you do, but then, you also don't have to fly on a commercial aircraft.
This incident has NOTHING to do with politics, Ron Paul, or anything else other than the TSA may have been concerned that the guy was involved in buying/selling of drugs. Rather than be specious (and not answer ANY questions) about the source of the money, a simple, "I work for a non-profit organization and we had a book sale" or something would have sufficed. Once again, you don't have to answer ANY questions... but then you must also accept the consequences of your non-participation.
@David C
I don't think you would care to have all of your criminal acts, no matter how slight, be publicly aired every time you do something that someone doesn't like.
@smitty & Angela
No, anything surrendered (because you don't have to give anything to them, but you don't have to fly either) to the TSA is destroyed. If the local law enforcement CONFISCATES (because there is a difference) something, they follow their local policy. If the FBI, FAM, CBP, or DEA become involved, you are likely to have a court appearance and items may be used as evidence.
That's why I refuse to fly a plane. Let the damn facists go bankrupt.
This BS has _everything_ to do with politics. There is no constitutional -- let alone, moral -- basis for the TSA, for government-owned or controlled airports, for State imposed limits on the amount of cash someone may carry, for the State to forbid fliers to carry weapons, for the State to be involved in airline security, for the State to outlaw drugs or any other substance, etc.
First, the State makes realistic alternatives to the current air system impossible. Then, some...people...try to pretend that "you don't _have_ to fly" and imply that the person harassed is somehow "guilty" of something... That attitude is obscene, mirroring the asinine statement of the TSA guy that "why not answer if you don't have anything to hide?" The very _existence_ of the TSA is "specious." There should _be_ no negative consequences to asserting one's rights. To further imply that what happened to this guy is _his_ fault for not immediately caving to TSA bullying is sick and suggestive of a statist mindset.
I felt dirty just reading that person's "comments."
I give him credit for sticking to his guns. He might have tried, though, to educate them a bit, by saying he felt he had a right to privacy and that he felt they were attempting to infringe on that right.
We have always had Bullies and Snoops among us. When the power of government, which is, I remind you, the concentration of the power to harm and coerce, supports these psychopaths and their agendas, individual liberty and autonomy are always irreparably diminished. It's past time for this nation and its people to do an about-face from this clear insanity, just as we did from the McCarthian witch-hunts.
David C. makes a good point...name the perpetrators. If you are recording the conversation clandestinely, you can answer their questions with something like, "Officer (name), I cannot answer that because it infringes upon my rights under the 5th amendment" That way or some similar way, the name of the officer is on your tape.
If the officer is violating your civil rights, you can sue him personally as well as his employer under exiting cour precedence for denial of due process and cdenial of civil rights (citation: Thibodo v State of Main).
Good luck to all freedom lovers over the next 4+ years. It's going to get a lot worse, so hide a little gold, silver, and cash, hoard some necessities and food, and plant a victory garden.
The morons who work for the TSA are empowered with the flawed sense of control. These idiots are not trained or educated in the laws but are given incredible amount of power. Its these types of people that cause a number of serious infringements. Its not just the TSA this type of control has turned many municipalities into police states. When the citizens fear the police and government more than criminals you know were near...This can all be directly attributed to Bush and the Patriot act. Thanks Bush you friggin assh*le
Another example of the idiocy demonstrated by those in positions of authority toward a ideology NOT represented in a democracy.
People carrying large amounts of cash fit the profiles of both terrorists and drug traffickers, as do people who refuse to explain when asked why they are carrying so much money. But the recording clearly shows that the police were being very unprofessional and the man being interrogated was being in no way disrespectful or abusive, and he was given no explanation as to why they needed to know what the cash was for. He had a perfectly good explanation, and the whole matter could have been settled had he just told them the truth. After all, 9/11 showed that the traditional American practice of trusting everyone unless there's probable cause to warrant suspicion doesn't work as well as the Israeli approach of being suspicious of everybody. But there's a fine line between being vigilant and living in a police state, and the difference is that good cops know how to do their job without going on a power trip, which is what was going on in this instance. Police have to be trained to be professional, and they have to be well enough supervised not to let unprofessional conduct become the rule and not the exception.
"Once again, you don't have to answer ANY questions... but then you must also accept the consequences of your non-participation."
James Madison would be laughing his ass off at what AmeriKa has become.
As far as educating TSA types, you can lead a pig to truth but you cannot make him understand. Maybe travelers should carry a pocket Constitution with them ... tho reading it would probably make a TSA minion's lips hurt.
One wonders: has the TSA ever caught a drug trafficker, money launderer, or terrorist?
And Rich in cc ... the day will come when the ask will be "Your papers. Now!" and you will bleat, three bags full, sir.
Acift, I might point out that there can be consequences for not minding your own business when no crime has been witnessed or alleged.
If cops are going to play bully boy, they too should be willing to accept the consequences. We all know what happens to bullies when avoiding hurting them is less advantageous than correcting them. Oddly that whole dyanmic is in the hands of the bully. Invariably they view the disrespect of being ignored, for the most part, for fear on the part of those they bully. Therefore they eventually make it worthwhile to correct them.
Remember consequences? You guys aren't the only ones who can bring them to bear.
Novista: And Rich in cc ... the day will come when the ask will be "Your papers. Now!" and you will bleat, three bags full, sir.
My point exactly. This country faces very serious threats, and we need to take the job of protecting ourselves from those threats seriously. The police have to be professional, respectful and where necessary firm. By the same token, citizens need to be respectful of the necessary job the police do and give them reasonable cooperation. Holding up a copy of the consitution every time you're asked a question isn't going to protect you or the constitution.
Could these officers of the law-- taken other means within their powers to harass the person under their control… if that person does not submit… like long detention… strip search… seize his computer.. additional intimidation --whatever-
You know, when you are behind closed doors with these morons and beat them into the floor they will change their attitude.
This is why I don't fly unless I absolutely HAVE to. These people are thieves (stole items from my wifes suitcase when she flew from BWI to Heathrow)and arrogant fools. I have no respect for them at all.
You know, this stuff has been going on for a very long time now.
I wonder if any of you armchair patriots are willing to do something about the government abuses, or, are you all talk and bluster.
While everyone is squawking about Democracy, you should know that we are not supposed to be a Democracy; we are a Republic. If you don't know the differrence, I suggest you learn!!
to ACIFT.
"...a simple, "I work for a non-profit organization and we had a book sale" or something would have sufficed."
or it might not have sufficed. you don't know, but that doesn't stop you from stating the claim as fact.
TSA: government jobs for former McDonalds workers who were not successful flipping hamburgers.
These were NOT police officers. They are untrained TSA Security Guards...who threatened to take him to the Police station.
TSA - you are the lowest of the low amoung the Statist 'law enforcement' gang and no better than thugs. You roust the elderly, Medal of Honor vets, children. You have no respect and any 'LEOs' that support you are no better. Thanks for disarming and make all who fly helpless to defend themselves. America is supposed to be the home of the free. That is part of the reason why we should be able to fly with cash and it is none of your d----d business!! Jerks.
"The American People Pretend to be Free. The Rulers in Washington Pretend to Agree".
It appears, in my opinion, that to regain the Republic, The Constitutional rights and guarantees, our nations sovereighnty from the Criminal Class in Washington and other areas, "We the People" may have to resort to our own blood shed.
It is literally no ones business how much cash a person carries anywhere he/she goes. It is not safe to carry a great deal of cash, but quite legal. However, the young man could have cleared things up quickly has he chosen to do so by simply telling them why he was carrying the cash.
It seems that eveyone is really touchy about Constitutional rights because our right are being stomped on by so many government agencies, and as one person stated, get prepared, it has just gotten started...watch for the next four years and see if things donn't get worse and worse. Yes, and do keep as much silver stashed as you can, because if "we" keep printing more and more paper money with nothing but paper to back it up, it will be carry no value whatsoever and we will need all the silver that we can get.
wjr quips, "TSA: government jobs for former McDonalds workers who were not successful flipping hamburgers."
Those former Ronalds could not deal with customers who paid for their hamburgers with cash; stressed 'em out.
I note in the audio, one of the TSA agents claims fifty dollars would be reasonable. Shoot, fifty bucks would not buy you a decent tube of lipstick. Must be a poor boy.
Three of us in our family. Father, daughter and then there is me, trouble making mom. Each of us carry at least two grand in cash at all times. None of us fly on aeroplanes, though. We carry a lot of cash for safety, for emergencies, for profit and to be sure we are worth robbing.
Safety is, example, should one of our cars break down, each of us has sufficient cash for repairs, if cash is required. Another example is should one of us suffer illness or injury, there is at least enough cash for a down payment for emergency services; our health insurance might not be accepted. Profit, we are always looking to earn money. Never know when you might come across a desperate seller of an item worth far more than the ask price.
Robbers, well I figure you can toss two grand up in the air, distract the robber, wrestle his gun away then blow his head clean off.
As to cash, this is the business of none. There is no law any person is required to explain a fistful of cash. In lieu of probable cause, such as being a known drug dealer or a known crook of sorts, none have a legal right to ask about your cash nor have a legal right to detain you simply because you have a fistful of cash.
IRS is an exception. However, the IRS is organized crime, the strong arm robbers of our government. When the IRS comes around, always give the agent all your money, fall to the floor then take to licking his glossy black jackboots while begging for mercy; you will never, never ever, win with the IRS.
Reminds me of stores, "Will this be a check or credit?" I always ask, "Does your store honor cash?"
Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation
All to often we do not get the "whole story." It is presumtious to criticise without knowing the circumstances. Some are just doing their job, while others do exceed their authority. It appears maybe they did go beyond protocol. On this I reserve judgement.
Harlan Lill, you are nothing but a coward. I have more respect for these stupid TSA officers than I do a coward like yourself. And, on that, I do not reserve judgement.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!