One of the nation’s most dogged ethics watchdog is now on the hunt for government documents in the “shocking” state execution a squirrel and raccoon.
The non-profit public interest law firm Judicial Watch reports it filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) lawsuit against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for “records about the seizure, testing and euthanizing of a squirrel named ‘Peanut; and a raccoon named ‘Fred’ belonging to Pine City, New York, resident Mark Longo.”
“The heartless killing of ‘Peanut the Squirrel’ by New York State bureaucrats shocked America,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “And now these same bureaucrats don’t want to turn over one document about Peanut’s death and their abusive raid on Peanut’s home. Judicial Watch’s lawsuit aims to get to the bottom of this abuse of government power.”
According to Judicial Watch, “ten government agents from the state departments of Environmental Conservation and Health reportedly showed up at Longo’s home, where he operates an animal sanctuary, and took his squirrel and raccoon, later euthanizing them.”
“They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours,” Longo told the New York Post that Peanut the squirrel, also known as P’Nut, was popular on social media.
Judicial Watch reports it “filed suit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Albany County, after the Department of Environmental Conservation failed to comply with two FOIL requests for written and video records related to Peanut and Fred. The first, filed on November 6, 2024, seeks:”
All New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) records related to the seizure, testing, and euthanasia of animals, including a squirrel named “Peanut” and a raccoon named “Fred,” belonging to a Pine City, New York resident named Mark Longo on or about Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2024. Such records shall include, but not be limited to, complaints filed with NYSDEC, internal NYSDEC communications, including emails and text messages, communications between NYSDEC and the Chemung County Department of Health, investigative reports, incident reports and laboratory reports.
Judicial Watch’s second suit, filed on November 6, 2024, seeks:
All body-worn camera audio and video footage, and dashcam audio-video footage, captured by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and its partner agencies related to the seizure, testing and euthanasia of animals, including a squirrel named “Peanut” and a raccoon named “Fred,” belonging to a Pine City, NY resident named Mark Longo on or about Oct.30-Nov. 1, 2024.
“Since November, the New York state agency has granted itself two 30-day extensions and then a 60-day extension to respond to Judicial Watch’s request,” JW reports.
Judicial Watch is being assisted by attorney Ethan Leonard of the Law Offices of Neal Brickman, P.C.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Abuse of power with no justifiable reason behind it. All who ordered it should have their employment terminated. Those who have delayed the response to the Freedom of Information Requests should have punitive action take against them as well. Both acts are not in the best interest of the people or the state.
I love squirrels and feed them on my front porch every day and think someone who hates them is lower than a whale stinky.