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Victory in Des Moines

Bump and Update: Victory in Des Moines! The Government has withdrawn its subpoenas.

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This from the Des Moines Register:

Federal officials Monday said a grand jury inquiry involving four peace activists and Drake University is not part of an anti-terrorism investigation. U.S. Attorney Stephen Patrick O'Meara said late Monday that the investigation focuses on unlawful entry onto military property at Camp Dodge on Nov. 16, and whether plans were laid for that at a conference the day before at Drake. Suggestions that the investigation is related to the Patriot Act "are not accurate," O'Meara said.

The investigation has alarmed peace activists in Iowa and around the country, who question whether the federal government is trying to silence dissent. "We're very alarmed," said Bill Dobbs, spokesman for United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of roughly 600 anti-war groups. "I sure hope those subpoenas are quashed, and I hope there's an investigation into just how this happened." O'Meara said his office does not prosecute people who are peacefully and lawfully engaged in rallies.

"The United States attorney emphasizes that the investigation regarding any attempted breach of the security fence at the Iowa National Guard Base is dangerous both to the person or persons attempting to breach the security fence, as well as a legitimately perceived danger to the base itself," he said.

The return date for the subpoenas has been continued to March:

Earlier Monday, O'Meara's office postponed court appearances for the four activists. They had been scheduled to appear before a grand jury today. All now have been told to appear on March 9.

More details on the case and postponement are here.

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