Mr. Minion,
I've never met you personally, but from everything I have read and the people that I have talked to that have met you, I have gained a lot of respect for you, for what you have done for the BBQ world and those in this world who are not as well off as most of us think we are.
I must, however, take exception to your post. I spent almost 27 years in Law Enforcement and I still have very close friends in that field. I was still active in the field until late in 1993.
Mark stated he was arrested on a local charges, Habeus Corpus, Latin for produce or bring forth the body, has not been suspended sir. If he had been unable to post bond he would have to have been taken before a judge or a magistrate, usually within 72 hours for his arraignment.
The right to counsel, appointed or retained, is still his right. At his arraignment the presiding judge would have addressed this issue.
I can't explain why Homeland Security Agents arrested Mark, my guess, either the alleged threat was made to a federal employee, made on federal property, or falls under some type of "terrorist threat"
Further, the government does not have the right to monitor phone or e-mail conversations, they have a right to monitor the numbers & location from which incoming and outgoing calls are coming and going and they may monitor those calls that come from or connect to known terrorists organizations, organizations know to support terrorists, or individuals who fit those descriptions.
Plans are not in place for an "enhanced" driver's license, driving is a state privilege not granted by the Federal government. There is legislation pending in committee that would create a National Identification card that failed to get out of committee and has been sent back for further work. I am not in favor of this, by the way. But I'm not afraid of it either.
And finally, I beg to differ with you, you are making a political statement, you are quoting facts about policies of this government, your government sir, that are not accurate to say the least.
I still have much respect for you Mr. Minion I would only ask that you check your facts before issuing them as fact.
I still think their might be more to Mark's story, I could be mistaken but, I assume the Federal Office from where these HS agents are based is in Oklahoma County, and if he were charged with a violation of Federal Law, the Oklahoma County Jail, the county in which the Federal Agency handling the offense has jurisdiction, would be the proper lodging facility, regardless which county the offense takes place.
Mark, I wish you good luck in your case. It does, from what you have told us, seem like a terrible waste of time and resources.