A Pennsylvania court has lifted an injunction against an Amish farmer who was raided by police last month for selling milk in violation of government regulations, but blocked the sale of raw milk to the public.
County Judge Thomas Sponaugle ruled Friday that the injunction against Amos Miller’s farm will be lifted after a battle with the state Department of Agriculture and Attorney General Michelle Henry.
The lawsuit alleges that Miller’s raw dairy products have been linked to E. coli outbreaks in two other states.
Those reports led to a raid on Miller’s farm in early January, followed by a lawsuit from the Department of Agriculture.
Conservatives rally behind Pennsylvania’s Amish farmers who suffer police raids over milk sales
The lawsuit alleged that raw dairy products were linked to the E. coli outbreak. (St. Petersburg)
After a hearing, the judge ruled that Miller was allowed to sell raw meat grown on his farm to his “immediate relatives,” but was prohibited from marketing or selling the product. I put it down. to the general public.
The judge also ruled that Miller’s farm must allow the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to “inspect, record, and take samples.” [and] Please perform the test. ”
“Courts cannot ignore federal regulations requiring permits to sell raw milk,” the ruling said.
Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican, Kentucky. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite/File)
Retail sale of raw milk is illegal in 23 states, and a license is required to manufacture raw milk in Pennsylvania.
“For years, this company has ignored efforts to bring commercial farm operations into compliance with the law, which all commercial farms are required to do,” Henry argued in filing the lawsuit.
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Following the farm raid and lawsuit, some Republican lawmakers denounced Miller’s farm raid.
Representative Thomas Massie, Republican, Kentucky; in January condemned the raid as “shameful” and argued it was a classic example of government overreach.
“It’s unfortunate that small farmers are forced into this situation by overbearing government regulators and members of Congress who have been captured by corporations and monopolies,” he told Newsweek in a statement Wednesday.
“I support all small farmers and consumers who want to participate in voluntary trade. It is essential that Congress adopt my Prime Act to improve the plight of small farmers like Amos. ” he added.
donald trump jr. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/File)
donald trump jr. He also agreed with X, sharing a video of a police raid and criticizing Pennsylvania for going after “farmers who sell to their neighbors.”
“Imagine what could be accomplished if law enforcement went after, say, members of an elite pedophile ring instead of farmers who sell to their neighbors,” Trump Jr. wrote. ×post.
Pennsylvania border. (St. Petersburg)
But not all Republicans supported Miller.
State Rep. Dave Zimmerman, a Republican who represents nearby Lancaster County and is a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, argued that Mr. Miller is not above the law.
“Let me be clear: I am 100% opposed to government overreach and have spent much of my time in Congress fighting against overregulation,” he said in a statement on January 17. . “It’s important to limit government, but we also recognize that we need some government.”
“Mr. Miller’s lawsuit is not about buying and selling raw products, as some have suggested. Many farmers across the state sell raw products. You can go to a farm to buy raw product. There are a lot of farmers who have roadside stands.”Here in Lancaster County, we have people selling raw product. Mr. Miller’s case is about following basic agricultural regulations that apply to all other farmers in the state to produce safe food. Is it too much to ask farmers to follow these basic requirements to ensure food safety? ” he asked.
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“Is the solution simply to ignore Mr. Miller and allow him to violate the basic regulations that all other farmers must follow? That would certainly be unfair to other farmers,” he said. says.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
