The newspaper’s editor and publisher, Eric Meyer, son of the late editor-in-chief, labeled the raid as “Gestapo tactics.”
The newspaper had been actively investigating Police Chief Gideon Cody at the time of the raid.
Tips had been received that he left his previous job in Kansas City, Mo., after being accused of sexual misconduct. Meyer gave an interview published Saturday on the Handbasket, a newsletter by journalist Marisa Kabas. He claims that the identities of Cody’s accusers were in a computer seized by police.
Critics argue that the scope and intrusiveness of the raid may not be justified under federal law. The absence of solid justification and the secretive nature of the search warrant bring the police’s motives and actions into question.
Advocates emphasize that news organizations can be approached legally through subpoenas for specific materials, rather than resorting to unannounced searches.
Amidst the turmoil, the Kansas Press Association’s executive director, Emily Bradbury, expressed strong support for the newspaper and its pushback against the police raid. She emphasized that freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and vowed to stand against government overreach.
