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The office manager of the Marion County Record, a newspaper whose offices were raided by police, has reached a settlement with the city, according to Courthouse News. Her attorney confirmed the agreement but did not provide details.
The August 2023 raids targeted the newspaper’s offices, the homes of publisher Eric Meyer, and a city councilwoman, drawing national attention and condemnation as a potential First Amendment violation. The day after the raid, Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, who was present during the search of his home, died.
Authorities said the searches were linked to a complaint that the paper had illegally obtained a local restaurant owner’s driving record, though they may also have stemmed from ongoing political tensions in the town.
Police Chief Gideon Cody, who ordered the raid, later resigned and now faces an obstruction of justice charge. In total, five lawsuits were filed over the incident. One reporter has already settled with the city for $235,000, while other cases remain active.
In March, a federal judge allowed Meyer’s core claims to proceed, finding the allegations outlined a plausible conspiracy among the defendants.
