FBI - Stop Picking on Pickering

Leslie Pickering and his wife, Theresa Baker-Pickering, co-owners of Burning Books, would like to probe the FBI's questionable probe of them. (Interesting – the spell check on FBI includes the word “fib.” Faux pas?)

Leslie Pickering was, over 10 years ago, involved in the ELF – Earth Liberation Front – an ecological group that used ultra-leftist and violent means to push and promote its agenda. Tactics included burning lumber yards, SUV lots, and destroying research centers that tested on animals. Leslie did not participate in any of these activities. He was more a courier for news and information to the press.

His last involvement with them was over 10 years ago. He now co-owns Burning Books on the West Side of Buffalo and, from what I can tell, remains active in protesting injustices committed by the government and corporate America. He has, outside of an arrest at an Occupy protest, maintained a clean record.

What he and his wife want to know is who ratted to the police on them and why. The FBI's secret informants claim that Pickering was trying to form an Eco-terrorist cell in the Buffalo area. (Right. And the FBI does nothing about the TEA Party which has openly advocated overthrowing the government.)

The informants were tasked with attending lectures that were held at Burning Books to see if there was anything that the FBI could use as evidence against Pickering. When the hyped up possible threats were never talked about or materialized, the investigation was closed. It also helps that one of the witnesses recanted their tale.

Then there was a slip up in the US mail that told Pickering that he was being monitored by the FBI. If I remember correctly, a note was accidentally left in a letter that was sent to him by the FBI agent in charge of reading his mail. So Pickering knew that the FBI was watching him and he set out to find out why.

Problem is surveillance goes only one way – Top down. The government can watch over you but if you ask for any information on why you are being watched, you'll be lucky to get any information at all.

Pickering wants to know who ratted on him. As I wrote before, it appears that it was two former disgruntled tenants. The Buffalo News story appears to mention three informants. Given the failure of the FBI to find any incriminating evidence against Pickering, then the entire file should be disclosed.

The FBI doesn't see it that way. They need to protect their sources of misinformation in case they come up with another false lead to chase.

Pickering ha packed up and moved on from his past. He is still an activist fighting against corporate and government injustice. He has just left behind the violent ELF and embraced other means.

And the FBI needs to understand this and leave him alone.

The FBI also needs to open his case file for him to examine all claims against him so that he and his wife can clear their names.

No claims = No case.

So the FBI needs to stop picking on Pickering.