Marshall’s Blog | Crazy Mormon Lib

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

In America, you can face up to 10 years in prison for standing up for what’s right in a nonviolent way. That’s what’s happening to Tim DeChristopher, a University of Utah student who was charged today for disrupting an oil and gas leasing auction of public land in Utah back in December.

Tim drove the price of the land up and really pissed off the oil companies. He also ended up winning about $1.8 million worth of leases himself. He raised enough money to cover the first down payment, and felt confident he could raise money for the subsequent installments, but that didn’t matter.

The Obama administration nullified the acution in February because it was hasty and involved sensitve lands. That is exactly why Tim took direct action back in December. He was able to delay things long enough for Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to review the whole mess and recind the leases.

Still, U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, is charging DeChristopher with two felonies worth 10 years in prision and up to $750,000 in fines. Tolman announced it on April Fool’s Day, which is appropriate. Considering the seriousness of the charges, I’ve got to ask, what was the damage here?

Bascially, the government isn’t out anything. The oil and gas guys and the BLM had to play by the rules and set up a legitimate auction, which went off without a hitch last week. But DeChristopher is still getting charged.

I suppose Tolman thinks it’s the principal of the thing. But 1o years? This is nuts. Sex offenders and armed robbers get lesser sentences. If this goes through, America will have to ask itself why one of its citizens ended up in prision for a decade simply for following his conscience in a nonviolent way. This would be a travesty and embarrassment to our entire nation.

What is Tolman thinking? Why doesn’t Obama and Salazar chime in? If DeChristopher gets charged, what happens to the BLM officals that set up the faulty auction in the first place? Do they get life in prison? 

Here is DeChristopher’s statement:

On December 19th, 2008 I took what I considered to be ethical, necessary, and direct action to try to protect our planet, our democracy, and my fellow human beings. In that spirit of protection, I took nonviolent action, which did not harm anyone nor destroy any property. 

My actions stopped what I believe was an illegal and certainly unethical auction of red rock public lands in Southern Utah. This auction was a fraud against the American people and a threat to my future. My motivations to act against this auction came from the exploitation of public lands, the lack of a transparent and participatory government, and the imminent danger of climate change. 

I acted openly and honestly because I was then, and still am ready to take the consequences of my actions. I had hoped the wheels of justice, particularly with a new Administration, would recognize the merit of my actions and their results, and not pursue prosecution. Those hopes were misplaced, and now my hopes rest on a jury of my peers.  

I have a proven legal team with Ron Yengich and Pat Shea. In a matter that will undoubtedly go to trial, my team will have a chance to demonstrate the corruption of the system which “awards” oil and gas leases to the highest bidders, yet, where the public and the environment are without representation and ultimately are really the only victims through the catastrophic effect of climate change. This trial will be an opportunity to address our moral imperative to defend a livable future for our children.

I hope my actions will be understood by others who learn about the depth of manipulation in our system. I deeply appreciate the enormous support I have already received, and I hope it will continue in the future. If my actions inspire others to work for change, any consequences I have to face will be worth it.

Tim DeChristopher