Sessions expands fed power to seize property without charge

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is rolling back Obama era reforms on civil asset forfeiture, the seizing of people's property and homes even when they are not charged with any crime. Asset forfeiture has raked in close to $30 billion for police in the last decade alone, creating a disturbing financial incentive to trample private property rights.

Although 13 states have banned the practice, police in those states may now be able to have the federal government do the seizing for them, and then get 80%.

Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT) are among the more vocal critics in the Senate, and Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court, but asset forfeiture has attracted critics from all sides, ranging from the ACLU through the Institute for Justice and the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity.

Sessions thinks a "careful" expansion of the government's power to seize private property without warrant or charge is a good idea. Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein called it a "common sense" measure.

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Sessions expands fed power to seize property without charge