The Long Shadow of Overreach: When Prosecutions Fail, Trust Falters David Huerta's 15 month ordeal at the hands of federal authorities serves as a stark reminder that even when charges are eventually dropped, the damage to individuals and institutions can be irreparable.
As president of the Service Employees International Union of California, Huerta was exercising his First Amendment rights by attending a protest against immigration enforcement operations in downtown Los Angeles last summer.
His arrest sent shockwaves through the labor movement and beyond. The case against Huerta was built on shaky ground from the start.