A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit claiming federal agents used
excessive force in an armed raid to seize Elian Gonzalez at the home of
his Miami relatives four years ago. An order issued Monday by U.S.
District Judge Marcia Cooke concluded the six agents who conducted the
raid were legally immune to the lawsuit, and she found no
constitutional violations. Federal agents removed Elian, then 6, from
the family's home before dawn in April 2000, five months after he was
rescued from the Atlantic. His mother and others died trying to reach
Florida by boat. The lawsuit alleged the raid team broke down the front
door unannounced, sprayed irritating gas, held people at gunpoint and
shouted obscenities at unarmed relatives, supporters and news media. [more ]
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