Tenn. Authorities Invoke Terrorism to Try to Justify Asset Forfeitures

Attempting to hide profit motive

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There was stunning testimony Wednesday before a state Senate committee as a local drug task force found itself facing tough questions.

The director of the 23rd Judicial District Drug Task Force responded to those questions -- about whether his agency was "policing for profit" -- with new claims that agents are really taking money out of the hands of terrorists.

While there's absolutely no evidence that the terrorism claim is true, the task force director ended up inadvertently conceding that interstate interdiction units do indeed have a profit motive.

"You said if the money is not there they could potentially lose their jobs or they could potentially lose those bonuses," observed Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, toward the end of the hearing.