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With the news cycle centered on Russia and Republican health-care flops, Attorney General Jeff Sessionss swift and quiet assault on the Fifth Amendment has gone largely unnoticed. In a reversal of one of the few conservative legacies of the Obama administration, the Trump Justice Department plans to restore the ability of police to seize money and property from suspected criminals without due process. The Department of Justice formally announced on Wednesday that it will roll back heavy restrictions imposed on law enforcement by former Attorney General Eric Holder, and thereby encourage law enforcement to plunder private property and cash in order to . . . fund law enforcement.

The process of civil asset forfeiture, referred to in Sessionss order as federal adoptions, has long attracted criticism from proponents of civil liberties. The process allows police to seize property that they suspect may have been illegally obtained. It involves local government essentially stealing from citizens who have not yet been tried for or found guilty of a crime, and it seems to directly violate the due process guarantees within the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. In a few notable cases, such as that of small-business owner Lyndon McLellan from North Carolina and college student Charles Clarke, citizens have been robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars without so much as being charged with a crime. The practice emerged during Prohibition and has exploded during the War on Drugs, evolving into a multibillion dollar industry for the police state.

House Republicans Justin Amash and Darrell Issa have rightly slammed Sessionss reinstatement of the practice. Amash derided the Justice Department order as unjust and unconstitutional, while Issa called once again on Congress to pass the Due Process Act, which he reintroduced in the House earlier this year.

But this is not enough. The party of small government and individual liberty must act as such and condemn the Justice Departments foray back into the murky, abusive, and authoritarian waters of asset forfeiture.

This is not your usual political mudfight. Indeed, before you cry Never Trump! consider, first, that the congressman who has most vocally denounced the practice, Darrell Issa, has been quite friendly with Trump. Moreover, opinions on this matter do not break down neatly along partisan lines. Before she was known as the eternally silenced, intersectional, resistance-princess-in-waiting, Kamala Harris was the relatively lackluster attorney general of California. And, despite selling herself as a progressive from Berkeley, Harris became famous for continually overlooking prosecutor misconduct and youve guessed it for becoming one of the countrys most aggressive proponents of civil asset forfeiture.

Harris was not merely doing her job. In 2011, she actively fought a California bill that would have curbed civil asset forfeiture. Four years later, she sponsored a bill to expand the abilities of prosecutors to seize assets of those charged with a crime prior to the commencement of criminal proceedings. That year, the state stole $50 million worth of private property and funds from California citizens.

To rebuke the Reagan legacy, Harris has billed herself as smart on crime rather than the Sessions-adopted tough on crime. In practice, their ideologies are reflective of the same, constitutionally hostile statism that conservatism must reject.

Thankfully, many conservatives do. Justice Clarence Thomas has excoriated the practice, describing it as policing for profit and calling into question its constitutionality. Indeed, as recently as last month, Thomas called upon the Court to reconsider whether their rulings on the matter are consistent, a concern that was reflected in Senator Mike Lees castigation of the DOJs order today. Rand Paul cited the Fifth Amendment in his condemnation of the order. Marco Rubio will likely also denounce the bill, as his historical opposition to civil asset forfeiture has been so strong that it led him to refrain from voting to confirm Loretta Lynch, who backed the practice, as attorney general. Senator Mike Crapo has also stood with Lee to call on the DOJ to reform it.

Alas, there seems to be a bipartisan momentum against reform. In four years, Donald Trump may very well face Harris in his quest for reelection. If so, Harris is bound to amplify the Democrats recent return to defending civil asset forfeiture, which began with the replacement of Eric Holder with Loretta Lynch, and has more recently continued with Harriss Senate colleague, Dianne Feinstein, floating legislation to bring even cryptocurrency back into the purview of forfeiture. Americans of all political persuasions deserve a good deal better than this.

READ MORE: Editorial: Jeff Sessions Should Drop His Expansion of Civil Asset Forfeiture Civil Asset Forfeiture: Where Due Process Goes to Die Justice Thomas Defends Victims of Policing for Profit

Tiana Lowe is an editorial intern at National Review.

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On Civil Asset Forfeiture, Jeff Sessions Is the New Kamala Harris - National Review

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is meeting Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at the presidential palace on Wednesday, and a cabinet reshuffle could be on the cards, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Erdogan's office announced the unscheduled meeting earlier on Wednesday, and the three sources said a reshuffle could be in the works, declining to be identified because the information is not yet public.

"There is a strong likelihood that there could be a decision on a cabinet reshuffle after the meeting," said one of the sources, who is close to the presidency.

In a separate statement, Erdogan's office said Yildirim would hold a news conference at the presidential palace in Ankara after the meeting. It was expected to be held at 1000 GMT.

A cabinet reshuffle has been widely expected since May, when Erdogan resumed his leadership of the ruling AK Party following an April 16 constitutional referendum giving him sweeping new powers.

Reporting by Orhan Coskun, Ercan Gurses and Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by David Dolan

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Turkey's Erdogan meeting prime minister, cabinet reshuffle ...

JERUSALEM (JTA) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey by phone at the Turkish presidents request despite objections from Israels Foreign Ministry.

The call took place a week after a terror attack at the Temple Mount by three Arab Israelis left two Druze Israel Police officers dead and led to the installation of metal detectors at the holy site, sparking tensions and riots in eastern Jerusalem.

Rivlin told Erdogan the attack was intolerable, and crossed a red line which endangered the ability of all of us to live together, according to a readout from the Presidents Office.

He also reminded Erdogan that following a terror attack in Turkey, the State of Israel was quick to condemn those criminal acts. Rivlin said Israel expected to hear similar condemnation from Turkey,with the understanding that terror was terrorwherever it took place in Jerusalem, in Istanbul or in Paris.

Rivlin stressed that Israel was maintaining and would continue to maintain the status quo at the holy sites, according to the Presidents Office.

Erdogan told Rivlin that Muslims should be able to enter the Al-Aqsa mosque without restrictions within the framework of freedom of religion and worship, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported.

Erdogan also spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, telling him The protection of the Islamic character and sanctity of Al-Quds [Jerusalem] and Al-Haram al-Sharif [Al-Aqsa mosque complex] is important for the whole Muslim world, Anadolu reported.

Erdogans office contacted Rivlins office Wednesday night to arrange the phone call. The Foreign Ministry in its objection said it would give Erdogan a role in the Temple Mount issue, Haaretz reported.

Rivlin decided to go forward with the call, saying it was important to answer requests for dialogue from the regions leaders, The Times of Israel reported.

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President Reuven Rivlin speaks with Turkey's Erdogan over objections by Israel's Foreign Ministry - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

WASHINGTONSenior members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX), Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD) condemned Turkish President Erdogans violent crackdown both in Turkey and the U.S. during A Stand for Free Speech held at Washington, DCs Sheridan Circle, site of the May 16th attack by the Turkish presidential security detail which hospitalized nice people, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

Were here affirming our First Amendment freedoms rejecting Ankaras violent efforts to enforce its gag-rule against American citizens, said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which organized the event in coordination with the Sheridan Circle May 16 Initiative (including many victims of the beatings), and a host of Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Christian groups including the American Kurdish Association (AKA), In Defense of Christians, American Hellenic Council, Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, A Demand for Action, Hellenic American Leadership Council, AHEPA, and the Armenian Youth Federation.

The idea that a foreign tyrant can come to the United States [] and allow his goons to beat up Americans on American soil is preposterous, said Rep. Poe, who went on to call for the extradition of those charged with the attack. They need to have a trial and they need to go to jail, if theyre convicted. All of them all of them involved in the assault. Rep. Poe, who had called for Congressional colleagues to join him in returning to the site of the May 16th beatings during the May 25th House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of a measure condemning the crimes, was unequivocal: The Turkish Government is responsible for that action, and they need to be held accountable.

Rep. Jim McGovern voiced similar concerns, calling on the State Department and the Justice Department to do everything they can to extradite the perpetrators of this vicious attack on US citizens and US soil. They need to be held to account. He noted that the Turkish government showed its brutality when faced with people who disagree with them people who believe in the reality of the Armenian Genocide, people who believe in the reality of freedom of religion in Turkey, people who believe in the reality of minority rights in Turkey, and people who believe in the reality of the security of Greece and Cyprus.

Citing the increasing repression within Turkey, Rep. Rohrabacher stressed that, Erdogan beat people here and the American people need to know this was nothing compared to the suppression and brutality that Erdogan is showing his own people in Turkey. He went on to send a clear message to Turkeys authoritarian regime: Until [Erdogan] apologizes to the American people for having his thugs beat up American citizens who are expressing their opinion, Mr. Erdogan should not be welcome to come back in the United States for a visit.

Rep. Costa concurred, noting The Turkish government owes us an apology and more than that; those injuries that took place are a reflection of the lack of respect of human rights in Turkey today where literally thousands of Turkish citizens have found themselves imprisoned, found members of the press in jail, only for trying to protect their own views.

Rep. Paul Sarbanes reminded President Erdogan that in this country, under our First Amendment, under our constitutional democracy, we have the right to peaceably assemble. He noted that Turkeys authoritarianism is nothing new for those in attendance of the protest discrimination, aggression, repression, (and) violence directed at the Kurds, at Armenians, at other ethnic and religious minorities, and of course theres the shameful legacy of the Armenian Genocide.

A number of victims of the brutal attacks spoke out in defiance of President Erdogans authoritarian tactics.

As an American citizen, I was violated from exercising [my] first amendment right of freedom of speech, said Sayid Reza Yasa, who lost a tooth, required stitches on his nose, and continues to suffer from the consequences of a concussion. I will never be afraid of them, but next time I go, Ill take my hard hat with me, just in case.

Ceren Borazan, who was videotaped in a choke-hold by a member of the Turkish security detail, outlined the litany of ongoing repression in Turkey. A half million Kurdish people have been displaced, said Borazan. More than 5,000 politicians and activists arrested in just 2 years. Erdogan has jailed more than 150 journalists and closed over 200 media outlets. He has fired more than 5,000 academics and also shut down 2,000 academics. He also tells women how many children they should have, targeting womens rights.

A third victim, Lucy Usoyan, who is of Yezidi origin and hails from Armenia, reminded attendees: We all have seen what happened on May 16th. Our fundamental rights as U.S. citizens have been threatened by Turkish government. President Erdogan, himself, wanted to silence our voices, but instead he made sure that we have been heard worldwide.

Hellenic American Leadership Councils Michael Maragos noted: The Greek-American community shared everyones shock when we watched when peaceful protesters were attacked by Turkish thugs on American soil. We were shocked but not surprised. For 100 years, Turkey has ignored the rule of law.

The diverse group of community leaders were also joined by Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, as well as by a Congressional aides, including those representing the offices of Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The July 19th gathering comes a month after Washington, DC law enforcement issued 18 arrest warrants including a dozen against Turkish President Recep Erdogans bodyguards and two Canadians of Turkish origin. Two Americans of Turkish heritage have already been arrested for assault and various related crimes. Hours after the arrest warrants were issued, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass and, according to a press statement, emphasized that the decision, which clearly was not taken as a result of an impartial and independent investigation, is unacceptable. President Erdogan later reacted angrily to news of these arrests, asking What kind of a law is this? If they [bodyguards] are not going to protect me, why would I bring them with me to America? Erdogan vowed to fight the charges leveled against his bodyguards.

The ANCAs Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16th attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with think tank leaders. Hamparians video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters elderly men and several women who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

Hamparian testified before a May 25th Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hearing were Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ms. Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by President Erdogans bodyguards.

On June 6th, with a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously condemned Turkey in response to the attacks, taking a powerful stand against Ankaras attempts to export its violence and intolerance to Americas shores. H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), has received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). On July 14th, the U.S. House also unanimously adopted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill, championed by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman David Trott (R-MI), raising objections to a proposed U.S. sale of handguns for use by the very Erdogan security detail involved in the May 16th attack.

Over 100 Senate and House members expressed outrage over the attacks through public statements, social media, and a series of Congressional letters.

The May 16th protest in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence was a continuation of a demonstration held earlier in the day in front of the White House, co-hosted by the ANCA. As President Trump met with President Erdogan. human rights and religious rights groups were joined by representatives of the Kurdish, Yezidi and Armenian communities to call attention to the Erdogan regimes escalating repression against free press, the Kurdish and other ethnic communities, as well as Turkeys ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.

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Members of Congress Demand Erdogan Apologize for Embassy Attack - Asbarez Armenian News

Searchmetrics Partners With Content Marketing Institute In Joint Webinar Revealing How Search Engine Optimization Unlocks High-Performing Content Marketing

The marriage of content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) couples data insights and best practices for creating high-performing content that resonates with both humans and search engines.

Marcus Tober, founder and CTO of Searchmetrics

On July 26th, 2017,Searchmetrics, the leader in search and content optimization, andContent Marketing Institute(CMI), the leading global Content Marketing education and training organization, are hosting a joint webinar in which the worlds foremost content marketing and SEO experts will discuss how to bridge the gap between the two disciplines.

For content marketers, the webinar entitled Why Content Marketers Need to be Their Own SEOs will answer the following questions:

How can SEO data help me measure the real ROI of my content? Why should I design my SEO and Content Marketing strategies to support each other? How can I use SEO insights to create content that rank high in the search engines and meet the needs of my target audiences? What are the tools and best practices that can help me become my own SEO?

The line-up of speakers is: Joe Pulizzi Content Marketing evangelist, entrepreneur and founder of the CMI and numerous startups, speaker, author, podcaster

Marcus Tober founder and CTO of Searchmetrics, one of the leading SEO thinkers in the world, online entrepreneur, speaker, blogger and in-demand commentator on search and digital marketing trends

Lucasz Zelezny Head of Organic Acquisition at UK price comparison website, uSwitch, SEO Evangelist and Social Media Speaker

The speakers will share their views on how and why content marketers must take advantage of data-driven SEO learnings from Google and other search engines to help develop the most effective and relevantcontent marketing strategies for themselves and their clients.

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Searchmetrics and CMI to Host Webinar on SEO for Content Marketers - MarTech Series (press release)