TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Marion County, a rural county in Kansas, has reached a significant settlement of $3 million and issued an apology over the police raid conducted on the Marion County Record, a small-town weekly newspaper, which occurred in August 2023. This incident raised serious concerns regarding press freedom, leading to immediate outrage among journalists and the public alike.
The county was one of multiple defendants in a series of federal lawsuits lodged by the newspaper’s publisher, Eric Meyer, and the estate of his late mother, Joan Meyer, who co-owned the newspaper. The lawsuits followed the raid, which involved aggressive police action against the local press.
Eric Meyer expressed hope that the large settlement would discourage similar actions against journalism in the future. The goal isn’t to get the money. The money is symbolic, he stated, emphasizing that the press is currently facing significant challenges.
Sheriff Jeff Soyez extended a formal apology to those affected by the raid, specifically naming Eric Meyer and his late mother, along with a former city council member whose home was also searched. The sheriff’s statement conveyed sincere regret for the involvement in the drafting and execution of the search warrants targeting the homes and the newspaper.
The commission approved the settlement agreement after a brief 15-minute private discussion. This outcome is seen as an essential step in upholding journalists' rights and ensuring that illegal practices do not deter press freedom.
In addition to the legal and financial ramifications, the raid has spurred a vital dialogue about press freedom at a national level, especially given that Meyer’s mother passed away from a heart attack shortly after the raid—an event Meyer attributed to the ensuing stress.
The search warrant that initiated the raid was reportedly linked to a dispute with a local restaurant owner, who accused the newspaper of invading her privacy. Meyer claimed that the situation arose partly due to the newspaper’s investigative coverage concerning the police chief's previous work history.
The county was one of multiple defendants in a series of federal lawsuits lodged by the newspaper’s publisher, Eric Meyer, and the estate of his late mother, Joan Meyer, who co-owned the newspaper. The lawsuits followed the raid, which involved aggressive police action against the local press.
Eric Meyer expressed hope that the large settlement would discourage similar actions against journalism in the future. The goal isn’t to get the money. The money is symbolic, he stated, emphasizing that the press is currently facing significant challenges.
Sheriff Jeff Soyez extended a formal apology to those affected by the raid, specifically naming Eric Meyer and his late mother, along with a former city council member whose home was also searched. The sheriff’s statement conveyed sincere regret for the involvement in the drafting and execution of the search warrants targeting the homes and the newspaper.
The commission approved the settlement agreement after a brief 15-minute private discussion. This outcome is seen as an essential step in upholding journalists' rights and ensuring that illegal practices do not deter press freedom.
In addition to the legal and financial ramifications, the raid has spurred a vital dialogue about press freedom at a national level, especially given that Meyer’s mother passed away from a heart attack shortly after the raid—an event Meyer attributed to the ensuing stress.
The search warrant that initiated the raid was reportedly linked to a dispute with a local restaurant owner, who accused the newspaper of invading her privacy. Meyer claimed that the situation arose partly due to the newspaper’s investigative coverage concerning the police chief's previous work history.
