I posted earlier about peace protestors’ records being subpoenaed at Drake University, in Iowa. Apparently, those subpoenas have been dropped, but the news is still not entirely good.
After almost a week of controversy, the U.S. attorney in Des Moines dropped four subpoenas against local peace protesters and one subpoena against Drake University Tuesday.
The attorney said in just-released court documents that all five subpoenas are quashed.
The grand jury issued subpoenas to at least four Iowans last week: Wendy Vasquez, Elton Davis, Patti McKee and Brian Terrell. Drake University was also ordered to divulge records relating to an antiwar forum held last November.
However, Drake President David Maxwell said the university was served with a new subpoena Tuesday that was “narrower in scope.”
Maxwell said the new subpoena requested university records relating to the scheduling of the Nov. 15 meeting, including any documents identifying the persons attending the meeting and all records of campus security which might describe the content of what was discussed at the meeting.
It’s a relief that there was enough controversy to cause Feds to withdraw the subpoenas, but it seems there wasn’t enough to stop them from attempting to stifle dissent via the threat of investigation.