Perhaps it's because of my distrust of Ted Cruz since his fancy footwork on TPP but my initial cynical reaction was that this sounds great but the Drug War (like the War on Terror) has been used to erode our constitutional rights.

Although the bill states that it specifies the use of monies confiscated as the result of conviction , the quote from Ted posted on his web site
https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3107
states that
"The U.S. Government is currently seeking the criminal forfeiture of more than $14 billion in drug proceeds and illicit profits from El Chapo, the former leader of
Ther implication is that there is nothing wrong with seizing property the Sinaloa drug cartel who was recently extradited to the U.S. to face criminal prosecution for numerous alleged drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering."

To me this implies that Ted sees nothing wrong with seizing property from those suspected of drug related crimes. El Chapo(as odious a person as he seems to be) hasn't gone to trial much less been convicted yet.

The Drug War, just like the War on Terror has been used as an excuse to erode constitutional rights in the name of doing good.


Text of the act:

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/files/docume...CHAPO%20Act.pdf


Quote from comments on Legal Insurrection:

RobM | April 26, 2017 at 4:28 pm

Not a fan of this. It puts a onerous and stink-bomb hanging over El Chapos’ trial and sentencing. His attorneys will file all sorts of VALID objections b/c the Government would have a financial AND political motive to find guilt and forfeiture. No bueno. = years and years of appeals and money not released = no wall.

A political stunt that keeps the heat off of Congress to fund the building/funding in the short term AND a stunt to relieve Mexico from paying for it…. which makes Trump look like a jerk… which would be fine with Cruz. Oh, and Cruz is up for reelection in ’18. heh.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/04/cru...or-border-wall/