Representative Conyers' Office Says Hearings WILL Be Held -- in
early September

     -  Brenda Grantland, Esq., F.E.A.R. Chronicles, Vol 1. No. 3,
(August, 1992)

     We've been holding the presses on this month's newsletter,  
waiting for the release of news about when the (House Government
Operations Committee) forfeiture hearings would be scheduled.  

     Today, August 3, Representative Conyers, chairman of the House
Government Operations Committee, issued a press release stating
that the forfeiture hearings would be held in early September. 

     Even more dramatic is news that Representative Conyers
released a report today showing that informants (whose tips are
used to seize property for forfeiture) are often getting rich off
of forfeited assets, thanks to the little known law that lets the
government pay informants up to 25% of the value of property
seized.  

     The August 3 USA Today quoted Representative Conyers as saying
"some informants -- most with extensive records -- make more than
the president and vice president combined."

     The report showed that several informants made more than
$500,000 a year in 1990 or 1991, and 65 made over $100,000 per year
-- just for informing.  This money comes out of the Asset
Forfeiture Fund, made up of proceeds of forfeited property.  The
fund is supposed to also pay liens and keep property in good repair
while under seige.  No wonder the government doesn't want to spend
money paying mortgages or taking care of the property -- they're
spending it all on informants so they can get more property to
forfeit.

     More good news about the forfeiture hearings! . . .    Last
week I met with Carol Bergman of the House Government Operations
Committee.  Carol told me that they ARE willing to allow testimony
from victims in the September hearings. 

     We are also hearing encouraging words from various members of
the Senate, but no further word on hearings in the Senate Judiciary
Committee.  I was trying to do a nose count of the Judiciary
Committee to see who was with us and who was against us, but I
didn't get very far.  It seems to me that, except for a few
supporters who don't want to be mentioned yet, all the rest of
Capitol Hill is sitting on the fence, waiting to see what happens
to Representative Conyers for taking a stance "against" LAW
ENFORCEMENT on this issue.    

     Representative Conyers -- THANKS FOR BEING BOLD.  Until now,
no one on Capitol Hill has had the guts to stand up to the law
enforcement propaganda-mill, with its claims that everyone who
opposes these unfair forfeiture laws is "soft on crime."  

     Representative Conyers, you are not alone.  We stand up with
you.  And, even though we are few in number, our numbers are
growing daily (faster than even we can believe), and there are more
to come.  As Henry Miller said, "Be BOLD, and mighty forces will
come to your aid."