FBI seizes John Lennon fingerprint card from auction house

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

FBI seizes John Lennon fingerprint card from auction house
Late Beatle's application for US residence confiscated by authorities in 'raid' on New York memorabilia dealer
Sean Michaels guardian.co.uk, Friday 8 October 2010 10.08 BST

John Lennon's application for permanent US residence was seized by the FBI this week, in a "raid" on a New York auction house. The 1976 immigration document, which included Lennon's signature and fingerprints, was expected to sell for at least $100,000 (£62,621), according to the dealer.

"I don't know why it was so important that they had to have it back," Pete Siegel told Entertainment Weekly. Just a week ago, Siegel added a photograph of thecardboard form to the Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction catalogue. Within days, the FBI called and asked if they could "inspect the card". "We said, 'Sure, come in,'" Siegel said. Officials from both the FBI and the US department of homeland security appeared at the Manhattan gallery, citing a mysterious "ongoing investigation". Wednesday morning, they reappeared with a subpoena and seized the card.

"This really has nothing to do with John Lennon per se," FBI agent James Margolin told the BBC. "It has to do with a government document." The FBI claims that regardless of its provenance, the item is US government property. Siegel is unconvinced. "If it wasn't John Lennon's card, if it was anybody else's, I would never have heard from the authorities," he said. "The fact is, anything that has to do with the government and John Lennon, they believe shouldn't be in the public's hands."

The card was being auctioned on consignment, by an unnamed owner who allegedly bought it at a convention 20 years ago. Some have raised the possibility that the item was stolen: according to Lennon's former lawyer, Leon Wildes, some of the late Beatle's papers, including a fingerprint form, were stolen in 1976. Not long before, Lennon had been under investigation by the FBI for his anti-war activism.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/08/fbi-seizes-john-lennon-card

[ixion]

1. "under investigation by the FBI for his anti-war activism"

Some things NEVER "change" :grr:

[cstanleytech]

2. Long as it was a totally legal investigation I

am not going to complain personally, its when the government does stuff like holds people for years without filing charges or wiretaps without a legal warrant that concerns me.

[No Elephants]

3. If the FBI spent less time on peaceniks and more on Al Qaeda, I'd feel my tax $ were not being throw

away on "protecting" us from people who oppose violence. So, yeah, I'll complain.

Besides, what constitutes a "legal" investigation is a target that seems to have moved fast and far since 911, with Democrats and Republicans, and, worse, by judges of all persuasions.

A nation begun with cries of "Give me liberty or give me death!" now shreds the constitution that generation bought with their lives and limbs everytime someone mumbles "national security."

Pitiful.

[cstanleytech]

9. I said

" I am not going to complain personally" I didnt say no one could or that you personally couldnt so sure if you wanna complain go for it, thats why we have the first amendment after all.

[Ian David]

4. This is part of the government's cover-up of their secret army cloned from John Lennon's body.

:sarcasm:

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. Oh noez! Zombie Beatles!

Frightening, but still not as bad as Zombie Ninjas.:scared:

[Vinca]

5. What a valuable use of government personnel.

:sarcasm:

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. "Mr. Lennon, do you feel any antagonism toward the "

Reporter:
Mr. Lennon, do you feel any antagonism toward the people who have attempted to have you deported?

John Lennon:

"Absolutely not. I believe time wounds all heels."

Lennon's wit.....
from the movie

The US vs John Lennon

to be seen on google video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=777046699234389996#

[-..__...]

7. "if it was anybody else's, I would never have heard from the authorities,"

Duhhh... if it was anybody eles's (excluding a historical figure or celebrity), it wouldn't have been up for auction in the 1st place... let alone be valued for $100,000.

No conspiracy, cover-up or sweeping under the rug story here.

Just federal agents recovering government property/a public record that may (or may not), be stolen.