Texas lies to FLDS mothers to get “truth” from kids

More official misconduct by Texas authorities in the FLDS case. The AP reports that Texas CPS, not content with breaking into private homes on the basis of a fraudulent warrant, is now lamely trying to justify having lied to FLDS mothers to snooker them away from their kids because CPS “decided” that “children are more truthful in interviews about possible abuse if their parents are not around.” From AP:

State officials Tuesday defended their decision to suddenly separate mothers from many of the children taken in a raid on a polygamist ranch in West Texas.Texas Children’s Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said the separation was made Monday after they decided that children are more truthful in interviews about possible abuse if their parents are not around.

I’d like to see the data that support this assertion: kids are more “truthful” when their parents are not around. What they mean is that kids are more easily intimidated into alleging abuse (whether or not it actually happened) when their parents aren’t there to protect them from the interrogation. But never fear, folks because (drumroll):

[CPS spokebabe] Meisner said the decision was made after much discussion with experts.

Whew! I don’t know about you, but when I’m faced with a moral dilemma, like whether or not to kidnap somebody’s kids, I always engage in “much discussion with experts.”

The mothers have complained the state deceived them, but Meisner said the situation was explained and, while there were tears, the operation went smoothly.

“I can tell you we believe the children who are victims of abuse or neglect, and particularly victims at the hands of their own parents, certainly are going to feel safer to tell their story when they don’t have a parent there that’s coaching them with how to respond,” Meisner said.

Much better to have CPS agents and “experts” showing those kids suggestive drawings and drilling them about who saw whose body parts. Query whether the experts opined on when CPS agents are most likely to tell the truth: with or without their parents?

Brenda and others were critical of CPS, saying the agency misled them as to what was to happen Monday, weren’t told why the children were removed from the compound and given inaccurate messages about opportunities to meet attorneys.”We got to where we said, ‘We cannot believe a word you say. We cannot trust you,”‘ she said.

So have we all. And now the world will be asked to believe CPS and its “experts” when they tell us that the kids are suddenly singing like canaries about abuse. One lie begets another, people. The outcome here is too predictable.

Officials said the investigation began with a call from a young girl who has yet to be located by CPS. The women in the sect said they suspect she may be a bitter ex-member of the church.

. . .
“It’s been all through history, ” said Brenda, the mother of two. “We were just here trying to live a peaceful, happy, sweet life. We don’t understand why we can’t do this freely.”