Last week I told you about an Amish farmer on trial, Sam Girod, and his terrible, dangerous crime of making homemade salves — read the back-story here: Amish Father of 12 Thrown in Jail.
The trial is over and I still can't believe how all of this went down. It just doesn't seem real… Hello? Is this the United States of America?!
Sam Girod was found guilty of all 13 charges.
I've read the updates from Sally Oh on day 1, day 2, and day 3 — the final day of the trial. My heart aches for Sam and his family, but I just don't understand why he didn't utilize a professional attorney instead of representing himself, as this likely would've made ALL the difference.
Here is an excerpt from the report on day 3:
(Get the full report on the final day of the trial here.)
Sam’s closing arguments rambled through the few points from his recent defense testimony, describing that he had lived a quiet life on 100 rural acres and started making chickweed salve with no intention of selling it. He gave it away for 8-12 months. Sam restated that he acted in good faith and with malice toward nobody, and nobody was harmed by his products. The information was presented in a seemingly random order and without substantiation because he had not cross examined the FDA’s witnesses who were hostile to the FDA and could have provided support for Sam’s case. Sam described how he removed all skin cancer claims at the FDA’s request even though he clearly believed the claim to be true. He reiterated that nobody was harmed by his products and he had many satisfied customers. He stated that there is nothing harmful in the chickweed salve. He described emphasizing to Mary Miller that he didn’t want her to get into any trouble “on account of my stuff”, and this was what the prosecution claimed was federal witness tampering, a felony with a penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sam made simple declaratory statements of truth.
“There was never an injured party in this case.”
“I’m not dealing with drugs. Their testing will show that.”
“I did not purposefully or knowingly violate one law. That’s not what I do.”
“I changed the labels on different times but I kept getting harassed.”
“Most of all, it’s taken some of our freedom away.”
Ultimately, Sam’s closing argument was not as compelling as it could have been. The FDA dermatologist had testified that the FDA approves drugs based on a strict risk/reward basis, maligning Sam’s products and implying they wouldn’t have been approved on that basis. Sam could have recounted the great harm caused by FDA approved drugs to demonstrate that their regulation is not protecting the public. Sam could have compared the risk/reward ratio of his chickweed salve which had documented benefits to many people and harmed nobody with the FDA approved drug Latisse. This drug is FDA approved for the purpose of growing longer and fuller eyelashes. The FDA required label lists known side effects including blindness and birth defects. You’re blind and your baby is deformed, but your eyelashes are to die for. In fact, the FDA approves a great many “lifestyle drugs” with serious side effects because that is in the best interest of their large pharmaceutical “customers”, to use the FDA’s own terminology from their internal emails. This is the agency that has relentlessly persecuted Sam Girod, and they were all well paid with millions of our tax dollars for this persecution of a peaceful and hard working Amish farmer who made herbal salve that harmed nobody… but he didn’t follow the rules.
The Verdict
The officers of the court appeared nervous when the 32 court watchers filed into the court to hear the verdict, with a small overflow crowd in the hallway outside the small courtroom. We were repeatedly warned to maintain order, no matter what they verdict may be. They are apparently not too accustomed to having the public take any interest in these federal court cases, and they seemed to be anticipating a guilty verdict and an angry mob, even though most of the court watchers were Amish and none of the court watchers had demonstrated the slightest evidence of prior misconduct.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all 13 charges. Not only that, but they found Sam guilty of each separate part of each count, even when only one part would be needed to make Sam guilty of that count against him.
The jury was polled and asked if the verdict as read represents their verdict in this case, and each answered, “Yes.”
The judge will sentence Sam at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 16th 2017. Until then, Sam will presumably be incarcerated in the Fayette County Detention Center.
Sam requested home release until the sentencing hearing and he was denied based on his previous fugitive status, and his involving others in the community. This was an oblique reference to the fact that Sam was not a fugitive from justice and was reportedly under the protective custody of the Bath County sheriff. The former Bath County deputy had testified, presumably as a subpoenaed witness, but we heard nothing at all with respect to Bath County sheriff Tuffy Snedegar. The federal court was apparently reluctant to jump into the briar pit of federal jurisdiction versus the constitutional power of elected sheriffs as the supreme law enforcement authorities in their counties.
Excerpt from the conclusion:
Given how out of his element Sam was, the prosecutor’s great legal victory was comparable to a high school football player beating up a grade school special needs child, but I guess a win is a win. That’s a resume’ builder. Maybe next time they’ll let her try a case against a lawyer instead of a pro se case where her legal opponent is an Amish grandfather.
Milling around outside the courthouse after the trial, there was a lot of crying, angry stares and looks of shocked disbelief. Many people felt a surprising sense of shame that such an injustice happened in our country.
What you can do now to help:
- Give to the GoFundMe account here: Support Sam Now.
- Call or email your legislators, both Federal and state, even if you don’t live in Kentucky.
- Email the Attorney General here.
- Email President Trump directly here.
- ***Here is Sam's sentencing update from 6/30/2017
- Read a report from the courtroom and more details on sentencing here.
- After the sentencing: Sam just wanted the TRUTH to be known.
More you might like:
- Need help knowing what to buy at the store and which food is REAL food? Click here for my book, Real Food for Rookies.
Arlene Rickaby says
What an upside down system we have, no harm, no foul. This man should not do ANY jail time, he harmed no one, didn’t steal, cheat or lie. Unbelievable.
Pat Olsen says
Bullshit! A pedofile or rapist will get off free!
Lucille Cali says
no words can express the shock.
Jackie Sadowsky says
I am stunned that he represented himself!
Bonnie Neel Kuhlman says
His REAL crime was defying the state.
Sierra Majors says
Kelly, surely during this whole process the great libertarian senators Ron and Rand Paul have reached out or notified of this case? They are both supporters of food freedom.
Amy Jury says
Not only is this totally unjust, but what a WASTE of taxpayer resources.
Debbie Randall says
outrageous!
Rexanna Wilson Harsch says
I think as adults most of us are generally smart enough and cautious enough about what we put in our bodies or use to treat ailments. I don’t feel we need the government telling us. Reminds me of a saying I saw on Facebook—the government doesn’t like competition!!!!
Nick Merolesi says
This sucks. He was not convicted for the product he made,or that there is any danger to the use of it. as there is in Chemo and radiation treatment. He was convicted for using the wrong words to explain the benefits of this product Many people love using it, and substantiate his claims. The real deal is that he could not afford a tiger in court lawyer.If his product worked, he should be given a medal and a grant to further research the possibility of using it as an alternative cure for cancer. This whole system is backwards and upside down. All these people who convicted him fail to see the big picture, Nobody will leave this earth in a body. and the only thing they will get to take with them is Karma. And eternity is forever. They will burn in the sulfur pit of hell for their folly.
Brooke Hill Franko says
This is all about control and greed. No one may participate in areas that are controlled by large corporations…..who also run the Food and Drug administration.
Fran Lammond says
Disgusting. Can’t believe it
Stephanie Graham says
I think the sentence is absurd, but he refused to follow the law. You can’t make medical claims without your product being approved as a drug. It’s a huge topic for bath and body care makers. The FDA is looking at websites too and cracking down.
David S Garrett says
….FDA is junk science more so than Sam Girod…this belief in LAW at all costs needs to be thoughts about…. is its own form of cultism…stateism…not sure where the boundary is but most three letter FED agencies need to be rethought by “We the People who are the true government
Stephanie Graham says
I agree. The law should be changed in lots of ways. Currently though you can’t say your salve cures cancer unless you have that product approved as a drug and that claim is proven. You also can’t threaten witnesses about your product during an investigation.
Heather Grenier McDougall says
What law did he not follow? Which law? Because they kept changing what they wanted him to do. If you’ve followed his case at all, he DID what they asked of him. Several times in fact.
Sally Oh says
Stephanie Graham Read the case and the trial reports, get your facts straight. Sick of discussing and defending with people who can’t be bothered with getting educated on the topic. Start here: bit.ly/fda-sam
Stephanie Graham says
Heather Grenier McDougall, allowing a medical claim in the brochure is a violation. You can’t imply medical claims when you talk to people about it either. Many private sellers break the law every day about this, and they are making an example of him. While I wasn’t there and don’t know all of what may have been done by the book or not, the brochure with the testimony is in violation. I do not think the sentence is fair by any means, I’m just pointing out that he was not in compliance.
Stephanie Graham says
The links you provided were one sided. The brochure claims are in violation. Yes, claims on Amazon are also in violation if the product isn’t approved as a drug. Again, I’m not saying I agree with the sentence and I don’t know if his treatment was fair during the investigation or trial, but it probably wasn’t.
Stephanie Graham says
He didn’t change the brochure, get your own facts straight.
Sarah Schneider says
Have you not stopped to consider he is a simple Amish man and doesn’t know a thing about how these “laws” worked in the first place and was just trying to innocently sell his salve that does in fact heal because it is all natural and it has for many years?! That was in the beginning and when he was made aware that he couldn’t have that he did comply with them and take it off. Like sally said get your facts straight before you go about thinking you know everything about this.
Sally Oh says
No he didn’t change his brochure. HE REMOVED THEM.
Sally Oh says
Sam did everything the FDA required. The two things he refused to comply with were the searches (he refused after the FDA agents lied the first time) and selling his products. Which were not drugs.
Sally Oh says
One-sided? I posted every document presented by the FDA and went to great lengths to get the timeline exactly correct. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t blog its version of the trial proceedings.
Ginny Carpenter says
Life, Liberty,and Justice??? There were no victims. This man deserves a presidential pardon!!
Cyn Warner Knight says
OMG. What is this country coming to?
Marion Caruana says
Shameful indeed. It’s all cruelty. May he finds a good lawyer. A lawyer who believes in justice.
Em Singh says
Justice is kind alright, but not in a good way.
Carole Carlton says
Need to repeal and get another judge!! AM I going to get arrested for mixing honey and lemon juice for a cough and giving to my family!?! Wonder who paid that jury off?
Karen González-Warren says
Does their greed have no end? I truly believe that many cancers can be cured. Do we not have the right to use a simple herb anymore?
Ricki Lindsay says
I’m embarrassed what our country has come to.
Leslie Kimbrough says
This is pitiful. I’m ashamed of our government.
Rebekah Rhodes says
This makes me so sad.
Vickie McMurray Guillot says
This is shameful !!!
Jill-David Boman says
No words.
Leah E McCullough says
I actually know people who went too the trial – it was a travesty. And the Amish won’t defend themselves 🙁
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
That’s why they’re targeted. Shame on the FDA.
Mindi Rae Beattie says
He should get a lawyer and appeal. This is so insane.
Jeannette Scott says
Shameful verdict is right
Sherry Russo says
Shameful verdict.
Datha Neely McCrea DeeDee says
This makes me so mad I want to spit nails. We need to leave the Amish alone unless they commit a real crime. This man had no chance in our world. God forgive us.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
It was a chickweed salve, commonly used for skin inflammations.
Kathy Meade Quinn says
I want to buy salve from him
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Me too, Kathy!
Kathryn Hicks says
The insanity grows. Shameful – I wonder why the jury appeared so shamefaced and why they felt they had to respond to all parts of the ‘crimes’ when one would have done; has anyone had thoughts that there might have been jury-tampering?
KeithnBeth Hull says
Since this is such a high crime, can the recipe now be shared, so people can still make it on their own? With out selling it of course. I cannot think of a better way to shove this in the governments face.
Sally Oh says
Thank you, Kelly!!! xoxoxoxo
Ruth Jannette Thean says
Signed and shared, this is so wrong !
Lesley Grubb says
this is so sad
Patricia Maier says
I find this hard to believe. FDA is afraid to be found out?
Nancy Dennert says
Please educate yourself in this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
If one person on the jury knew this he would be free.
Rose Liming says
Absolutely! Praying for a Presidential Pardon. Among other things that needs, must be for this kind of thing to NEVER happen again!
Julie Noble says
AMISH SAM UPDATE from Sally Oh
Sam’s best hope for freedom is a presidential pardon. Sam’s family is working on an appeal but it could be years before that is successful, if at all.
Before we do anything else, we must build evidence that Sam’s injustice matters to voters. 100,000 petition signatures and a healthy fundraiser are the two best ways to gather that evidence.
Please sign and share the petition and the fundraiser (links below). If you’ve done that, wait a couple of days and share it again.
Petition: bit.ly/freeamishsam
Fundraiser: gofundme.com/supportsamnow
[Story for anyone new to the tyranny: kyfreepress.com]
Yvonne Kelley Gipson says
Signed & shared. This is just wrong. I’m hoping for a positive solution for him. This is unbelievable & unacceptable.
Elaine NWayne Townsend says
Such injustice to the poor man! He made a salve to help people & then is punished for it. This will make that community keep to themselves more & really, who could blame them? Evil has prevailed but mark my words, the Lord sees & He will cause judgement to fall on the man’s persecutors.
The Lord will rise up & defend those that are His!
William Kubat says
He took money out of the pockets of Big Pharm. He also didn’t tithe to the criminal justice system.
Jan O'Brien Schaefer says
Another waste of taxpayers money.
Elaina Harman says
Rediculous with how detrimental drugs kill some. He did no harm!!!
Tammy Jo Soens says
Govt is keeping us sick for profit… …name a synthetic drug that causes no harm.
When an honest man is in jail…our system has failed.
Tammy Jo Soens says
We need to make phone calls everyday to this judge.. Laws that subvert the spirit of America are wrong.
This is another precedence that must be reversed.
Government should not be ones holding our “cures”
Carmenica Turc says
Outrageous
Amy Travis says
Religious persecution.
Carey Marie says
They really need to get an appeals attorney involved! This is an absolutely disgusting perversion of justice.
Heidi Young says
This is very sad.
Barb Walker Smith says
Big pharma behind this?? I bet so.
Tammy Jo Soens says
FDA laws need change !
Everyone whines about health care. There are (real) natural cures at our finertips, but we are not allowed to use them. The real reason is NOT safety, or they would recall everything they have approved. It is purely for money. ….
Cases are lost because of laws. Right/ wrong / moral / immoral/ ethical/ unethical, in the end, are not the issues .
Charlene Shaw says
How about the government that happily allows thousands of people to be damaged via the acceptably lawful Pharma Industry, the killing of thousands of people in the name of ‘war’, the spraying of entire states with poisonous chemicals in the form of chem trails, the allowing and encouraging industries that poison our food chain and kill millions of useful pollinators, that allow pedophiles and murderers to live in luxury and positions of power…? WHAT JUSTICE IS THIS?
Theresa M. Houghton says
I wish there was a way to bring this to Trump’s attention. I know not everyone likes him but he does think outside the box in regards to medicine.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
There is! You can email him here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Candy Browne says
Government over reach!
Shelly Stinnett Williams says
Thank you for the update… I’m just so sad about this. I mean seriously..we are in a sad place as a nation. I pray something can be done for this man.
Paula King says
WE THE PEOPLE need to wake up before we let anyone take more of our Christian morals AWAY.
Once it’s gone it will be GONE!!!
Paula King says
If this is not big Government Bullying I don’t know what is. Telling a person they can not heal themselves and friends with what is written in The/ Our BIBLE using the plants of the field???
Julie Polyanski says
Too bummed out to read about this but methinks his salves were probably very effective…
Melyssa Lyn Howry says
This is just terrible and horrifying. :'(
Linda Natashia says
Thank you for the update, Kelly. This is evil.
Sherry Hicklin says
Are juries even made aware that even if someone breaks a law they do not have to convict them if they feel the law is wrong? This is insane! The government goes after the Amish in order to set precedents, as they know that the Amish often will not use lawyers.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
No, juries must NOT know this… 🙁
Wendy Carver says
The govt will arrest you for telling jurors this.
Sherry Hicklin says
Jury nullification should be taught right along with the constitution, oh, wait, we don’t teach that anymore either. 🙁
Angie Carswell says
I had not heard of this in relation to instructions given to a jury so I looked it up. This is what I found:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/jury_nullification
Angie Carswell says
I agree that he did a tremendous disservice by representing himself in this case.
Jill-David Boman says
Angie Carswell Yes–so sad. He meant well but played right into their trap. They were counting on him not hiring a lawyer.
Kristie says
That is terrible! I feel so bad for him, and especially his family. 🙁 I make my own soap, but I am scared to try selling it because of these kinds of injustices.
KitchenKop says
Kristie, you can sell it with no problem, you just can’t make any health claims on your label.
Kelly