FBI agents, along with state police, executed a search warrant at the home of former Marine and UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter.
According to Ritter himself, the raid was motivated by unsubstantiated allegations that he was working on behalf of a foreign power.
Yesterday, police and FBI agents were seen carrying dozens of boxes from Ritter’s home just south of Albany, New York. By his own admission, the search was “related to concerns apparently the US government has about violations of the Foreign Agent Restriction Act (FARA)“.
Ritter strongly denies any allegations of wrongdoing and believes that the raid was used by the authorities to try to intimidate him.
📢🇺🇸JUST IN: Scott Ritter's house is being raided by the FBI right now! pic.twitter.com/FUpZcFsKJ7
— Aussie Cossack (@aussiecossack) August 7, 2024
An FBI spokesperson also confirmed that “law enforcement activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation“, had taken place, but would not say more.
Passport revoked
Ritter previously served as a UN weapons inspector in Iraq during the 1990s. He opposed the US invasion in 2003, arguing that there were no weapons of mass destruction in the country – despite US government claims to the contrary. In the end, Ritter was also proved right and no such weapons were ever found.
Today, Ritter devotes a lot of time to advocacy and analysis published on his social media channels – not least on the war in Ukraine and Gaza.
He has also appeared on Russian state broadcaster RT on several occasions and had his passport confiscated by the US government when he was traveling to attend a conference in St. Petersburg in June. Ritter’s alleged close relationship with various actors in Russia is also believed to be the main reason for the FBI raid yesterday.
Scott Ritter @RealScottRitter explains what he knows about the FBI raid on his home
"This has a chilling effect on freedom of speech" pic.twitter.com/gPcWoESFQk
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) August 7, 2024
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a law that requires persons acting on behalf of or otherwise representing foreign interests to disclose this fact.
Under the law, so-called "foreign agents" - individuals or organizations that lobby on behalf of a foreign power or otherwise work to advance its interests - must register with the Department of Justice and disclose their affiliations, activities, and any financial compensation received.
