Government harassment doesn’t just disrupt lives—it can destroy them. The publisher of the Big Bend Times has become the target of relentless intimidation by Jeff Davis County officials, raising troubling parallels to the tragic toll such misuse of power has taken on others before him.
The story of Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey, co-founders of Backpage, serves as a stark reminder of the real consequences of government overreach. For years, Larkin and Lacey worked to uncover corruption and defend free speech. Their reporting exposed abuses of power, including Cindy McCain’s ties to stolen opioids, earning them the ire of powerful figures.
Their platform, Backpage, actively partnered with law enforcement to combat sex trafficking, even as the government falsely painted it as complicit. A 2013 federal memo confirmed no evidence showed reckless behavior toward minors or any pattern of facilitating trafficking. Backpage’s efforts were praised by law enforcement, yet the government pressed forward with its campaign to destroy the platform.
The relentless persecution proved deadly. In 2023, Jim Larkin tragically took his own life under the unbearable weight of legal battles, vilification, and financial ruin. The toll of such targeting isn’t just reputational—it’s personal and profound.
For the Big Bend Times publisher, the parallels are striking. Arbitrary traffic stops, baseless investigations, and threats of arrest have been wielded to intimidate and silence him. These actions violate the principles of due process and press freedom, reducing accountability while placing emotional and financial strain on their target.
Despite his success as a media entrepreneur and executive, the publisher admits the harassment is emotionally draining. He has support, resources, and a platform to push back—but many others in his position might not. If Jeff Davis County continues its dangerous trajectory, it risks inflicting irreparable harm on someone unable to endure the strain.
This story serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of government harassment. Whether through malicious prosecution or intimidation tactics, such actions aren’t just abuses of power—they are threats to lives and democracy itself.
