I'm not very smart, so I might be interpreting what you laid out incorrectly:
1 judge says, "you can grab the boxes, but not open them". The FBI grabs the boxes, then opens them anyway.
It seems like judge #2 ruled in favor of the FBI to save face.
1 judge says, "you can grab the boxes, but not open them". The FBI grabs the boxes, then opens them anyway.
It seems like judge #2 ruled in favor of the FBI to save face.
Judge #2 ruled in favor of the FBI. The Plaintiff is appealing to the 9th circuit.
This is solid evidence to support the idea that the FBI was simply looting US Vault, since confusing the contents without documenting what came from each box would blow up any evidentiary value of the items seized, and prevent the evidence from being used in any criminal prosecution, or even civil asset forfeiture proceedings against the items themselves.
It is my opinion the FBI was expecting to keep everything they stole and auction it off for a profit.