Posted by Robert Rand on April 5, 2009 10:51 pm

This indictment looks like a load of horse manure. I don't see any requisite of 'intention' in the competitive bid auction, and no warning of felony charges if the bid is found deficient, just a forfeiture of money paid in. As IANAL all I can say is that from reading the law, the Bureau could force a forfeit of the lease bond and other monetary payments if they don't comply with the lease bidding process. The Bureau could be angry if there are no other bids for the lands, but that hardly rises to federal felonious action on the part of Mr. Dechristopher. If he files a lease bid and they don't like it, they can sue to annul it and keep his money- but indict on TWO felony counts? That sure looks like an empty and flagrant abuse of federal powers.