A Wisconsin police chief who signed off on the “Gestapo-style” raid on Judicial Protest reportedly abused citizens for years — raising questions about why he wasn’t prosecuted by the Department of Justice.
Chief Geoff Willems escalated his maintenance of a signed affidavit to raid the online newspaper over claims it criticized an Assistant Minneapolis City Attorney and a high ranking official.
In 2017, the Assistant Minneapolis City Attorney reportedly published non-consensual nude and semi-nude photos of black men on her Twitter account @CardsAgstHrsmt — and then was fired seven months later.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Minneapolis City Attorney employed Minneapolis law enforcement resources to reach out to Chief Willems when Chief Willems took the reins from former Chief Jensen. The aim was to prevent any unfavorable public attention by urging for a raid.
The signed affidavit of Chief Willems and his subordinate Detective Traci Hall underwent federal court litigation, prompted by accusations that they had been involved in “procuring evidence in civil cases” with the intent of obstructing constitutionally protected rights.
The newspaper’s computers, cellphones, and reporting material were hauled from the publisher’s home in April 2017. The publisher also suffered a neck injury after one of Chief Willems’ cops applied a knee to his neck.
The publisher, whose house was raided, said his mother, 72, a former Army and Hennepin County Probation Officer, died from stress after the intrusion — and had been in good health prior to the raid.
In July 2023, the Department of Justice concluded its inquiry related to George Floyd. According to recently disclosed documents, these papers contained multiple accusations against the Hudson Wisconsin police department, suggesting that they were implicated in a similar manner as co-conspirators working in tandem with the Minneapolis Police.
As for the online newspaper, which continues publication — and has even had an influx of views — the site is going to carry on as it has always done.
