KXTV, which ran the original story referred to in my original post, has now updated their coverage.
It appears now that SWAT wasn’t used, but that “federal agents with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)” served the warrant and broke down Kenneth Wright’s front door. From KXTV:
“OIG is a semi-independent branch of the education department that executes warrants for criminal offenses such as student aid fraud, embezzlement of federal aid and bribery…”
The feds also claim “the search was not related to student loans in default as reported in the local media” and that the raid “was part of an ongoing criminal investigation.”
However, questions remain:
- Since Kenneth Wright wasn’t arrested, why the forced entry?
- If this had to do with non-violent crimes like fraud or embezzlement, why not try a more humane first contact than door-breach and 15 armed personnel?
- Since all the evidence is locked up because the case is ongoing, how do we know the feds are telling the truth?
- How can the Department of Education issue warrants authorizing deadly force for non-violent crimes?
- Doesn’t this sound like the Dupnik defense? (Keep changing the story and blame the victim by implying this is part of a larger investigation.)