Bipartisan Legislation Would End the Worst Abuses of Federal Forfeiture

Federal law enforcement’s standard forfeiture practice is to seize property and then make the property owner prove their innocence. Forfeiture notices refer indirectly to dozens of different federal crimes without saying exactly what someone did wrong. It happened to Linda Martin, whose $40,200 in home savings is in government hands.

But there is real bipartisan recognition that civil forfeiture is unjust and unconstitutional. A newly introduced bill would stop federal law enforcement from getting to decide how to spend forfeiture funds, end bureaucratic approval of forfeitures, and ensure property owners have access to an attorney.

More on Linda’s story and the bill here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2023/03/14/the-fbi-took-her-life-savings-but-wont-say-what-she-did-wrong/?sh=37fcccd55eea.