Kansas authorities have been directed by a judge to eliminate all electronic duplicates of files belonging to a small newspaper, which were generated during a police raid on its premises earlier this month.

This ruling was issued on Tuesday, close to two weeks after the computers and mobile devices seized during the search were returned to their owners.

The searches, conducted on August 11th, targeted the office of the Marion County Record as well as the residences of its publisher and a City Council member, the Associated Press reported.

These actions have attracted significant scrutiny and criticism, casting a spotlight on Marion, a town in central Kansas with a population of approximately 1,900.

The incident has triggered a broader conversation concerning the safeguards provided by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for press freedoms.

Representing the newspaper, Attorney Bernie Rhodes stated that a judge has mandated the authorities to surrender the electronic records taken and to eliminate any existing copies of these files, along with all photographs taken by officers during the raids.

While the local prosecutor and sheriff were in agreement that investigators should not retain this evidence, Rhodes opted for a court order to formally document this decision.

The contents of the drive will remain unclear until Rhodes receives a copy of the files.

Written by staff