TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Marion County has agreed to pay a settlement of over $3 million and extend an apology concerning a law enforcement raid on the Marion County Record, a small-town weekly newspaper, which ignited a nationwide discussion about press freedom.
The raid occurred in August 2023 and involved multiple defendants, leading to five federal lawsuits from the newspaper's publisher, Eric Meyer, the estate of his late mother Joan Meyer, and other parties affected by the raid.
Meyer indicated that the symbolic value of the monetary settlement aims to deter future infringements on journalistic institutions. “The press has basically been under assault,” he expressed, underscoring the intent behind the high settlement figure.
In a statement, Sheriff Jeff Soyez acknowledged the distress caused to the Meyers and affected individuals, expressing heartfelt regrets over the execution of the search warrants.
The Marion County Commission reached this agreement swiftly, deliberating for only 15 minutes during a private meeting.
The raid's implications extended beyond financial concerns, triggering significant debate regarding press rights, especially in a community as small as Marion, which has roughly 1,900 residents. The incident also coincided with the passing of Joan Meyer, which Eric Meyer attributed to the emotional distress stemming from the raid.
The search warrant in question connected the raid to a dispute involving allegations of privacy invasion by a local restaurant owner, who claimed the newspaper unlawfully accessed sensitive information about her.
