Kansas Reporter Sues City Over Newspaper Raid, Alleges Constitutional Violations

The lawsuit seeks $950,000 in damages for the raid that targeted the Marion County Record, exacerbating the reporter's health issues and sparking a national debate on press freedom.

A reporter from the Marion County Record has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $950,000 in damages against the city of Marion, Kansas, and various officials, alleging violations of constitutional rights during a police raid on the newspaper's offices.
The raid, led by former Police Chief Gideon Cody, targeted the newspaper as it investigated Cody's background, resulting in the seizure of equipment and personal cellphones.
The lawsuit claims the raid caused the reporter, Phyllis Zorn, to suffer from exacerbated seizure disorders, leading to extreme depression and anxiety.
Legal experts have suggested the raid likely violated state or federal law, sparking a national debate over press freedom.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation took over the investigation, which has now been passed to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to look into civil rights issues.