By Carlos Miller
Federal agents raided the home of a photojournalist last year, seizing cameras, memory cards, a digital voice recorder, computer hardware and digital storage devices.
The photojournalist, Laura Sennett, had photographed people protesting an International Monetary Fund meeting in Arlington, Va on April 12, 2008.
On September 23, 2008, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force along with several local law enforcement agencies raided her Arlington home, seizing 26 items as her son looked on.
However, no criminal charges were ever filed against Sennett, who specializes in shooting protests. Nor was she arrested in connection with the search.
Sennett, who sometimes goes by the alias “Isis”, has been published by CNN and the History Channel. Here is an outdated blog she maintained.
Authorities have yet to return the seized items.
She is now suing.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Joel Chandler // Sep 26, 2009 at 7:21 PM
This is truly frightening stuff. So much nonsense has been and is being done in the name of the “War on Terror.”
I am utterly convinced that I am far more likely to be the victim of violence at the hands of my own government than I am to be the victim of an act of terror.
When I read stories like this one I wonder where it will end up.
Carlos, please keep up the good work. Reporting events like this are important to every citizen.
2 Temper Bay // Sep 28, 2009 at 3:56 AM
What did the Affidavit for Warrant say to justify the judge giving the FBI search authority ?
And, I would suggest Mz. Sennett also learn to duplicate her mem. cards and file a dup safely away from prying eyes.
3 Lazerous // Oct 2, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I think this especially highlights the need for photojournalists to keep backups of their work in a secure hidden place or a safe deposit box. Last I checked, the cops couldn’t force a safe deposit box opened without a warrant. That being said, I have heard of programs where you can have an email pre-setup and have a video or other file instantly emailed out of a phone by simply the press of a button. I wish I had the program name; I’d post it here.
4 Isis aka Laura Sennett // Nov 19, 2009 at 12:13 AM
I had back ups, and the #%$#’s found them and took it them
There is more, they asked me about the books on my book self, they asked me what kind of an American I thought I was, it was unreal!
They trashed my home.
Carlos, you have my e-mail, I would be happy to do an interview with you.
Peace!
Isis aka Laura Sennett
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