Federal Challenges to DOJ Program Could Cost You: Your Tax Refund and Phone Bill at Risk
A brewing legal showdown over the Department of Justice's asset forfeiture program means your hard-earned money is in the crosshairs. New federal challenges to DOJ program rules aimed at letting cops seize cash and property from suspected criminals without a conviction are surging—and if the rules get shelved, your local police may scramble to recoup lost funds by hitting you with higher fines, ticket quotas, or even tapping your annual tax refund to cover their budgets. That phone bill jump you noticed last month? Some experts say it's tied to states trying to fill a $2 billion gap left by paused forfeitures, passing costs straight to your wallet.