disinfozone/The_Info_Web
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions

vault backup: 2026-05-13 21:30:09

Browse source
This commit is contained in:
disinfo.zone 2026-05-13 21:30:09 -04:00
parent c9e05e3e65
commit 44b8a8e76e
1883 changed files with 23264 additions and 5496 deletions
Download patch file Download diff file Expand all files Collapse all files

13
10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ben Wagner.md
View file

@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
---
category: "Law Enforcement & Legal"
tags:
- Person
- Lawyer
- FBI
- LawEnforcement
summary: "Wagner filed two civil rights lawsuits with the U.S."
---
[[Ben Wagner]] was a lawyer from Jackson, [[California]]. He represented [[Dave Beavers]] and other deputies who were exposing corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Wagner played a key role in forming [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)]], an organization dedicated to exposing this corruption.[^1]
Wagner filed two civil rights lawsuits with the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] in Fresno, which were later described as the largest civil rights lawsuits in [[California]] history. He also filed a Writ of Mandamus against [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General; [[George Vinson]], regional director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau Investigation|FBI]]; [[George Deukemejian]], then Governor of [[California]]; and [[David F. Levi]], [[United States Attorney|United States Attorney]], for their alleged refusal to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1]
Wagner filed two civil rights lawsuits with the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] in Fresno, which were later described as the largest civil rights lawsuits in [[California]] history. He also filed a Writ of Mandamus against [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General; [[George Vinson]], regional director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]; [[George Deukemejian]], then Governor of [[California]]; and [[David F. Levi]], [[United States Attorney|United States Attorney]], for their alleged refusal to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1]
Wagner was reportedly carrying a gun both inside and outside Mariposa for the first time in his life due to the nature of his work. He wrote letters to the Attorney General, the [[Federal Bureau Investigation|FBI]], and President [[Ronald Reagan]] seeking help. A special agent from the Fresno [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], Division of Law Enforcement, informed Wagner that everything pertaining to Mariposa was being "trashed" at the Attorney General's office, and advised him to proceed with the lawsuit.[^1]
Wagner was reportedly carrying a gun both inside and outside Mariposa for the first time in his life due to the nature of his work. He wrote letters to the Attorney General, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], and President [[Ronald Reagan]] seeking help. A special agent from the Fresno [[Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], Division of Law Enforcement, informed Wagner that everything pertaining to Mariposa was being "trashed" at the Attorney General's office, and advised him to proceed with the lawsuit.[^1]
Shortly before his first scheduled court appearance on behalf of D.I.G., Wagner received an obscure response from "Chuck" at the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]]. The day after meeting with "Chuck," Wagner, along with [[Jerry Goldberg]], reportedly disappeared, unplugging his phone and leaving his law practice and home, never to be seen again.[^1]