INTERPOL Granted Diplomatic Immunity In the US

ShakaUVM writes "A couple of weeks ago without any fanfare or notice in the media, President Obama granted INTERPOL full diplomatic immunity while conducting investigations on American soil. While INTERPOL has been allowed to operate in the US in the past, under an executive order by President Reagan, they've had to follow the same rules as the FBI, CIA, etc., while on American soil. This means, among other things, the new executive order makes INTERPOL immune to Freedom of Information Act requests and that INTERPOL agents cannot be punished for most any crimes they may commit. Hopefully the worst we'll see from this is INTERPOL agents ignoring their speeding tickets." Update: 01/05 02:57 GMT by KD : Reader davecb pointed out an ABC News blog that comes to pretty much the opposite conclusion as to the import of the executive order.

Comments

Uuuh... WTF!?!?!

[SkydiverFL]

So, basically, we trust foreign agents more than our own? HOLY CRAP! Exit stage left, already!

As for foreign officials having similar rights, that's more for political courtesy and to keep the whole cultural difference thing out of our courts. That's somewhat understood. However, there is a CLEAR difference from some over-the-hill politician getting pulled over for speeding compared to an amped-up INTERPOL cop on the verge of a conviction. The mindset, purpose, emotions... hell, the whole scenario... is completely different.

Re:About time to arm ourselves

[Gilmoure]

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

Automatic wepaons

[GodBlessTexas]

If they don't have to pay federal taxes, does this mean they can now have automatic weapons in the US? Please don't discount it out of turn. The only thing that keeps US citizens from owning automatic weapons is the fact that the US government demands a tax on those items that they stopped allowing us to pay in 1986. Owning a Class III automatic weapon without having it registered with the BATFE and paying your taxes is really just a tax violation. So, if they are no longer required to pay taxes on property, does this mean that INTERPOL agents in the US can have automatic weapons? That would be a hell of a tax loophole!