Authorities withdraw search warrant for Kansas newspaper, will return seized items

A Kansas newspaper that authorities raided last week will get back the materials police seized after county officials rescinded the warrant.

Police raided the owners' home last Friday, as well as the Marion County Record's office, suspecting that an employee of the publication may have committed a crime, NBC reported. Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed the search warrant.

The raids drew national condemnation, including from press freedom groups who excoriated police for their actions.

Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey confirmed Wednesday that he had asked law enforcement to return the seized materials to the paper.

"I have come to the conclusion that insufficient evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized," he said. "As a result, I have submitted a proposed order asking the court to release the evidence seized. I have asked local law enforcement to return the material seized to the owners of the property."

An attorney for the Record confirmed to NBC that Ensey had withdrawn the search warrant.

The Friday raid preceded the Saturday death of 98-year-old paper co-owner Joan Meyer. Her son Eric, with whom she owned the publication, has attributed her death to the shock of the raid.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.