The Jasper County clerk is using coercion to collect unauthorized funds, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) are alleging on their Illinois Leaks website.
The clerk, Linda Huth, imposes unauthorized fees that "are inconsistent with state law and thinks she can unlawfully seize and search your personal electronic devices," the group argued, adding that it has asked the county's state's attorney to look into the fees but has not heard back.
The ECW cited county codes, the Freedom of Information Act and court cases to buttress its argument that Huth has imposed fees illegally.
"After our last article written about an individual who was arrested, detained, and forced to provide his name for simply submitting a Freedom Of Information Act request and refusing to pay the illegal fee imposed by Jasper County Clerk, we have further researched the issue and stand by our original interpretation of state law – that the clerk is imposing fees not consistent with state law," the ECW posted.
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