Are We Still Free?

I don't think so. Not when a newspaper publisher can be JAILED for using the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to a government document. Fannin Focus publisher Mark Thomason, along with his attorney Russell Stookey, were arrested on Friday and charged with attempted identity fraud and identity fraud. Thomason was also accused of making a false statement in his records request. Talk about “trumping up” false charges! Thomason's relentless pursuit of public records relating to the superior court pissed off Judge Brenda Weaver, who went to the DA, who “trumped up” the charges. Thomason was apparently investigating this judge, and it must have frightened her. So she used her “connections” to make life miserable for him and derail his investigation. Thomason said, “I take this as a punch at journalists across the nation that if we continue to do our jobs correctly, then we have to live in fear of being imprisoned.” That only happens in banana republics. So I guess that's what we've become. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)