Is it Wrong to Start Violence? Stealing the Tape

[egervari]

Congressman Torres is a thug.

[MegatronAngel]

That was awesome!

I'm starting to really like you Jan!

Bahahahahahahaaaaa!!! Cool!

[swu880]

2 people(ie Torres and his goon) don't like the video

[edgardusXII]

Torres' Press Secretary knows nothing about freedom of speech and inquiry. What an immature and oppressive being.

[sternumagnum]

The reaction of that congressman and his entourage is the reaction of people who haven been caught totally unprepared. Those guys clearly cannot articulate what they think beyond standard, stock phrases so they get frustrated when pressed to expand on their ideas. For someone who has deep and wide knowledge of what he talks about, the way Helfeld conducts his interviews would not be a problem at all.

Yes, ph.action is often justified against actions/situations that are equivalent to ph.force.

[larrybud]

I think Jan should conduct all of the Presidential debates!

[bvssvni]

I love your tie.

[BastienNewton]

I'm glad there are principled people to stand up for truth and rational inquiry. I just can't believe what I'm seeing

[Urkskurk]

This was so fucking surreal to watch. I can't hardly believe how they acted.

[Hostile]

$45k? Good for you dude, bravo.

[MrCommiehater]

That is my ruling class looking over for me. I'm glad Torre found some good help.

[hobsdigree2]

HAHA HELFELD I know we are talking on another video of yours but i watched this one and can't stop laughing, that congress man has no right to steal your property and he's trying to be a tough guy you can tell, we call people like him a douche bag where i come from, I'm sure he felt real tough while he had to write you a check for 45,000 dollars. way to go Helfeld.

[ncub8]

Haven't you heard, Congress follows your own law. Apparently the first amendment isn't part of that.

[ncub8]

Haven't you heard, Congress follows your own law.

[famemolto]

You are a hero, Mr. Helfeld! Please keep up the good work.

[PorscheAgain]

@famemolto Is Jan short for Janet or Janine you think?

[LordAgonis]

because he can't comprehend first principles v.s. end results, he terminates the interview.

[netster007z]

Just another government thug!

[marcabela]

Jan,

Man, you have our utmost respect, and I speak for all the citizens on this planet - your courage and your capacity to dive right into the dragon's mouth to get back what is yours to start with really impresses me. Raw courage.

Thank you - we are all greatly indebted.

Marc

[fz6rox]

Brilliant. It just shows the arrogance of these people in power. We should be limiting their power and control by limiting the resources available to them. Great job showing them for who they really are.

[yuppyguitar1]

I love this guy. Its hard to believe the office of a Congressman could be so thuggish. Well, maybe 10 years ago...

I would have liked see the interview leading up to the question on violence, just to get some more context on the discussion.

[TreachMarkets]

Wow, I'm still cleaning the irony off of the computer screen. I think I'm gonna have to scrub for a while. Good job!

[operaisbestbrowser]

nice tie

[Downfacingdog]

Pure American integrity.

[Justwannalogon]

Hahaha great job. It's so sweet to see a little justice being done. Our checks and balances are broken as hell. Hmm, that could be literal. It's like Satan is president while his demons are running congress.

[8daystillmonday]

That is so awesome that you sued that asshole and won. This just made my day.

[weavermama]

......Helefeld infuriates these guys because he brings the discussion up to the level of meta-principle and consequently forces them to lie in a manner in which they are unaccustomed.

[weavermama]

A principled argument will elicit a beast-like, animal reaction to the extent to which it threatens another man's source of income, just as an appeal to pragmatism will enrage a devout idealist. Politicians are often the most dangerous of criminals for they not only wield immense power, but they are able to convince others that they posses adequate justification for their crimes. It takes an intelligent psychopath to appeal to conscience all day long while himself being devoid of it...........

[RunLiberty]

Helfeld has he written any books?

[BeadStallcup]

Isn't that something? Torres is really not opposed to bully tactics and theft in an attempt to censor an interviewer. And then this cowardly politician disgorges the tape and $45,000 (of the taxpayer's money) to hush the matter. We just aren't dealing with some of the these government parasites in a way that teaches them proper respect for the people or their rights. I doubt that Mr. Torres hasn't learned any lesson here. Id' say he needs a more severe lesson in respect for others...

[Martintfre]

This guy is great.

[Harlingtonjnr3]

LOL $45k.... sweet ownage!!

[Butchersen]

0:37

If you didn't indicate otherwise I would swear that was Al Franken

[r58black]

The press secretary is a looter, one of the four despicable subhuman characters, that, unfortunately live and vote amongst us.

[malaketh]

the question was very simple! is it okay to walk up to someone on the street and punch them

[grengerx]

One hell of a chance to start violence with the plutocrats,The need to be hanged from light poles

[dbmasta]

The irony beginning at 3:00 is excellent.

[Mom2BTJ]

The Press Secretary wanted you to beat him down. You showed a lot of restraint.

I'm glad that so called servant of the people had to pay out money. He should have also had to leave office.

[ktm7979]

Love his tie. Really distracts the person being interviewed.

[Aquilani42]

Incredible! Did you really get that old bag for 45K?

[janhelfeld]

yes.

[alennna]

Thank you so much for what you do Janhelfeld . You are just amazing, very talented courageous and so inspiring! Life, liberty, property, free markets and the pursuit of happiness! much love and stay strong!

[edmyster81]

Jan, no offense, but your interviews are quite humorous after learning you took legal action and gained restitution from the incident. It's your kind of journalism that deserves to be heard. Keep up the good work!

[sywars1]

Men like those don't deserve their lives, much less their offices.

[grengerx]

I concur :)

[heyheymonkees]

Ahhhhh. . . progress!!!

[jryan1971]

It's chilling that people like Torres hold positions of power in this country.

[agent008t]

Who the hell elected that asshole?

[DavidJBuchner]

"I am appalled by your questions." Priceless.

[oli1233]

Amazing.

[janhelfeld]

I agree.

[sywars1]

Thank you for doing this.

[heymisterderp]

This is more newsworthy than 90% of what we get from the mainstream media.

It's a shame there aren't a thousand more Jan Helfelds.

[LordVigeous666999]

Dude.... that would be like a Free Press

Its like freedom, it sounds good, but does it work?

[bigdogphoto]

Respect an individual's property rights? You expect these ideologues to respect anything that interferes with their socialist agenda? They robbed Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. It's just a lousy video tape in the scheme of things, right?

[Spideynw]

Fantastic video Jan!

[TheTopBloke]

You violated my respect? WTF?

[libertarianjury]

"What is the difference between criminal and decent responsible citizen?"

If someone is a criminal, they work for congress, or eat tax money. If someone is decent, they don't.

And don't forget that motherless dog of a press secretary. These people are worthless human beings. I am soooo happy you recorded the whole thing.

Thanks for taking these worthless pricks to school. You are an inspiration to aspiring jounralists.

Google David Protess for another hero in journalism

[libertarianjury]

This Torres asshole is unbelievably unintelligent. He deserves to be beaten publicly for being too stupid to answer a simple question, and for being a thug who starts violence where only reason and logic are called for. The morons who elected him deserve similar treatment.

[bobbincygna]

this is so telling. Incredible tape.

[janhelfeld]

THANKS, ME TOO.

[bluecactii]

I admire your restraint, Jan.

[Traveler2112]

Torres pwned to the sum of 45K, love it.

[ndes0532]

boy he deserved so badly, yes!

[modelmark]

45000$ he stole from the citizens. It's difficult to assume he does not know what he is doing is wrong.

Remarkable piece of projection: your questions have no substance (my answers have no substance)

[christopher81818]

I think I would've initiated a little preemptive strike on Torres' face. Well, at least he got some money from him. I don't think I could ever interviewer like this. I'm too hot-headed. Awesome job Jan!

[gustavonarez]

"You stole my propertie..." I don't know why that's funny to me...

[Krampfarsch]

45000$ :-) gj

[McDicker96]

bah thats the government for you they can't even wait for the reporters with digital cameras they steal everything that isn't bolted down

[fergus247]

knowledge is power? REASON is power

[janhelfeld]

he  signed a release.

[wkruk1979]

so?

[DCLugi]

So if you bought the movie "Land of the lost" then Will Ferrel has the right to come take it from you?

[wkruk1979]

Will agreed for the footage to be used anyway the contract was set up this guy didnt want it to be out there

jan is not a liget interviewer if he was FOX would have him on he needs his own youtube channel to even have people see his stuff

think about it how often do u see him on regular tv?

[DCLugi]

Whether someone is on TV or not doesn't make them legit. Dr. Phil is on TV quite a bit. If this guy signed a release that makes a binding contract. He also abviously agreed to the interview otherwise he would never have been there.

[OnziTam]

"regular tv?"

you r regular...

[wait887]

I've seen your videos before but I recently heard you on stefbot. This politicians staff provided a louder answer then you could have ever achieved by him answering the question.

[wkruk1979]

if my image is on a tape i have EVERY right to it

[fullerbush]

torres has a nice hair , he is as bald as a cue ball

[thewordkeeper]

I had never heard of Jan Helfeld until a few hours ago. After 40 years of watching the news, interviews, 60 Minutes, Dateline, Ted Kopell and others, in this one 3 hour period, i have never seen so many people as stumped, stupified and totally discombobulated over Helfeld's questions.

In every other interview people are either cursing him out or storming out. I found his videos quite by accident. I was looking for the presser with Pelosi's CIA moment and stumbled upon these. They're Great!

[Condor324]

What just happened? I don't care what your opinion is of the interviewer, this behavior is unacceptable. Taking away the mike and ganging up on him isn't a respectable way to conduct yourself as a servant of the people. Congressman Torres is a jackass, case closed.

[y2knoproblem]

What a bunch of THUGS!!!

[smallmaniac]

It's a simple question, but getting all in a huff about it made it very complex. Politicians are idiots.

[harryogre]

Welcome to the brave new world.

[medliberty]

Jan gets thrown out of another Congressman's office. Jan is the BEST interviewer around, by far. Press on man, you are all we have. Torres probably doesnt like the fact that you graduated from the U. of PR either, just like the other dope, Stark. At last, we are seeing how these lowlifes are. And $45K is just chump change to high rollers such as Torres but at least it got his attention. I say we need to vote out whoever is in and vote third party, whenever possible.

[whoo689]

Is this torres scumbag still in office? What a joke!

[kdicciani]

you probably voted for obama as well - typical. you are a moron

[ThorsgaardFoundry]

VOTE FOR PEDRO

lol

[biffmctavish]

I laughed all the way through the video. Great vid.

[itpduder]

Jan did a great job in keeping his cool. Great job. Jan shows these guys for what they truly are: Thugs with nice titles. Torres and Young did great damage to the credibility of our elected officials.

[SavannahsRUs]

All these scumbag politicians are thieves.

[cdimmm]

He most likely got the 45,000 out of his tax dollar slush fund. Jan is a better man than me because if that cocksucker laid a hand on me he would have been using the 45 grand for a new set of choppers.

[mostradicalmanever]

Right on!

Truth ruffles some feathers doesn't it?

[overmind25]

Free Market anarchism!

Voluntarism

Abolish the state and corporate welfare.

[kevindanielbrown]

Torres is unbelievable. He first won't answer simple logical questions then he steals his tape and tries to steal his papers... This is the most obvious confimation that politicians are criminals.

[eesloan4]

awesome...and very funny......

[TadRapidly]

Unfortunately Jan is like "Borat". Now that people know who he is they won't grant anymore interviews anytime soon! Keep up the good work, Jan. And take two showers to clean the slime off that sticks to you every time you're in a politician's office.

[nightpotato]

man i really feel bad for jan... they really tried to humiliate him.

[janhelfeld]

For the record : The Congressman chose to be interviewed and signed a release which he also stole. The capitol police required the Congressman to give me back the tape and the release BECAUSE BOTH WERE MY PROPERTY.

[chaseantarctica]

lolwut?

[gustavonarez]

You're stealing his property... and initiating force against him...

[chairoflava]

Keep it up, Jan, you're doing a great job :). Someone needs to show the world when scum takes power.

[janhelfeld]

The thief is iniciating the force because he is taking my property without my consent. If I try to take it back, I am simply defending my self against his initial violation.

[WhiteShark392]

Please give me the contact information for this press secretary. I would like to ask him why he is a criminal and thief.

[billpressshow]

it is not your property if the material inscribed on it dipicts someone who choose not to be on it its also a copyright issue

[chaseantarctica]

lol. You're making your own laws up?

If the congressman does not want the interview to be published, he can choose not to sign a release form. He may NOT steal the interviewers tapes or equipment. Why do you think he ended up paying $45,000?

[fjfjvmvm]

Hey Jan, if he didn't use physical force to steal the tape but instead just grabbed it before you could step in front of him, would it be wrong for you to initiate force to get the tape back? Since you obviously can't put two and two together, the point is you're questions are idiotic.

[BIGJACK777]

.asdf

[csuebman]

Jan you are and asshole, you took 45K on a technicality, you bastard

[BRYAN351]

csueban, Jan didn't "take" a damn thing, but the congressman and his thugs stole Jan's tape. Place the blame where it belongs!

[csuebman]

He did take 40K, which to any decent person should be unconscionable. Jan's action of taking money to settle a case falls under the umbrella of frivolous legal actions.

You mean to tell me he didn't take the money? Of course he did.

The stupid congressman and his staff did steal the tape, and had no option than to offer the money to avoid a criminal conviction.

Yet, the whole issue would have been mitigated by a court order to return the tape.

Jan is an asshole and a bastard, period.

[BRYAN351]

csue, Jan didn't take $45K, he was AWARDED $45K, big difference. Think it's too much? Probably, but blame the courts, not Jan.

The congressman and his thugs, however, TOOK the tape. They stole Jan's property. Perhaps the judge wanted to send a message that just because you're a politician, you're not above the law. You can't send much of a message with a slap on the wrist.

[csuebman]

You are getting etymologically technical. receiving an award requires the action of taking what is being offered, so he did take it, this action took place whether justified or not, otherwise the awarded money would be awaiting a claimant.

However, there are such things as frivolous lawsuits and other frivolous legal actions, this was one of them. That is what I meant, but if you prefer the use of another word fine.

He frivolously and unconscionably received an excessive amount.

[csuebman]

What I meant when I said "take" was the willingness to receive a frivolous award, the courts did not twist his arm to unconscionably accept such a thing, so I blame Jan for his part.

fine, he didn't "take" it; he "received" it to be specific. That is what I meant and what you should have understood

regardless, he is an asshole and a bastard for that.

[BRYAN351]

csue, you consider a U.S. congressman stealing someone's property to be a frivolous matter? A frivolous lawsuit is someone sueing their neighbor for stepping on his grass. What Jan sued over is anything but frivolous.

[feeknocks]

wtf? he was awarded the money... do you know how the law works? do you live in america?

[csuebman]

there are such things as frivolously awarded damages, or settlements. Or do you deny their existence? This was such a case.

I correct you and myself, because the 45K was not an award, it was a settlement. Do you know the difference Mr. Jurisprudence? Either way, it is unconscionable to accept such monies. That is why he is an asshole and a bastard

[csuebman]

Nobody denies Jan's legal right to damages or settlements, which makes your point irrelevant.

My argument was about the excessive amount, which I admit is an arguable position based on a value judgment.

Yes, I live in America, and yes I can teach you and Jan constitutional law. I am not justifying what the congressman did, if you should be so illogical to think that I am.

[BRYAN351]

csue, the most important thing to discuss here is how our politicians react with evasiveness and hostility to Jan's simple questions. It proves that our government is exercising powers that they don't legally have, which makes them nothing more than a mafia.

[Baabaloux]

I think the congresman had it easy. Everyone else would of be in jail.

[georgedonnelly]

Absolutely brilliant. And I am so glad you made him apologize and pay. Absolutely spectacular.

[BRYAN351]

Great stuff. It shows the Congressman and his crew for what they really are, a bunch of fucking thugs.

[shroomingnewman]

I just think the congressman didn't understand the question, even though it was posed to him perfectly articulately.

[beervolcano]

No, he understood he was about to be righteously owned.

[YawnGod]

What the fuck?  Esteban Torrez was/is a Democrat.

Holy fucking bananas. Holy fucking shit.

[TripleZ89]

The irony was lovely... JUST very lovely! Unmask more monsters Jan! Please!! We love you!

[atrickpay11]

Paul/Ventura 2012

Conservatives want to be your Daddy.

Liberals want to be your Mommy.

Libertarians want to treat you like an adult.

[YawnGod]

Cute.

Libertarians don't want to treat you like anything, since they don't care about you. Like an adult, indeed.

[stick1to2the3issue]

They paid you 45 grand! awesome! what they deserve...power corrupts.

[jcarter557]

what is so hard about answering a question, if you have nothing to hide ?

Great work again Jan !

[lukeev]

Politicians are thugs and bullies, with guns and bombs. Nothing more.

[VirginianRebel]

they are career criminals. one day people will figure this out.

[TripleZ89]

Civilians got that stuff too you know! ;P

[lukeev]

Sadly, not to such an extent. People have the right to bear arms. Government denies that right, then claims the right to use those very same arms (plus lots more state sicko-weapons designed for genocide, not self-defence) - on anybody they see fit. Like peaceful cannabis smokers and innocent Iraqi children.

[zaboomafroo]

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

[CurtHowland]

Not that the politicians have read it...

[leafwatch]

Over and over Jan shows these politicians are the same as gestapo with a very thin mask of benevelence that goes away fast if questioned.

[JesseKantstopolis]

These interviews are the best interviews I've ever seen but they are very clearly old. Why are they just now being put on youtube? Whats the story behind these interviews? Is Jan still doing these?

[Nexus974]

Congressman Torres was about to get backed into a corner and his press secretary knew it. The secretary intervened to keep that from happening.

[jcompt666]

Although it is certainly unjustified to initiate the use of force, it is perfectly justified to use appropriate force to protect one's property. Therefore, Jan should have popped that little midget sausage squeezer in his statist little pie hole. (No offense to midget sausage squeezers.)

[zkreso]

It certainly is morally justified, however it isn't legal, and Jan is not stupid enough to break the law on tape (unlike the congressman)

[DanielJDavis]

Bwahahaha! Sue that Congresscritter for all he's worth!

[tesla921]

These are politicians. This is how they act. They are stupid and arrogant. Decent people work to feed their families. Politicians steal money from citizens in order to feed their families. They are members of the parasite class. Bring freedom back. Get rid of the parasites.

[Balden2]

I would like to initiate some force on that stupid press secretary.

[Rongstad]

These are our "lawmakers? No wonder we have the problems we do.

[ESun4C]

Wow. This is pretty damning stuff.

Helfeld's doing some pretty cutting edge stuff here. I wonder if they mistake his accent for some type of Borat hit job. They look like complete rubes.

Is any legal action being considered as a reult of the interview ? When was this taped ?