The online auction site eBay has prohibited the use of its facilities by supporters of Scott Roeder, the alleged killer of Kansas City abortion doctor George Tiller. As reported by Sunday's Kansas City Star, Roeder's supporters planned to auction an Army of God manual, a prison cookbook compiled by an abortion clinic bomber, a bullhorn signed by an anti-abortion activist and three drawings autographed by Roeder. The proceeds were to be used for Roeder's defense in his first degree murder trial that begins in January. Apparently supporters hope to finance representation other than the public defenders who are now representing Roeder. Some supporters are urging him to assert a "necessity defense."
However the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported yesterday that eBay says the planned auction violates its policy against material that encourages illegal activity or promotes violence toward others. eBay says it will remove the items if they are posted for sale. Tiller's attorney wrote eBay arguing that any proceeds from the auction would come under Kansas' "Son of Sam" law that keeps those charged with crimes from profiting from their activities. Proceeds would instead go to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board. Regina Dinwiddie, a Roeder supporter, complained that eBay is chilling their First Amendment rights.
