Profound Violence to My Faith, Religion, and Health: Retaliation by the G-Man Who Ruthlessly Abused Michael Cohen
David Vogel
Solar Energy Mentor I Streamlining Federal Grant Approvals & Material Distribution for Commercial Solar Projects I Retired CEO Project SunRize I Pastor Church of Unity Society
Dear Mindful Leader,
If you’ve been following my journey, you know the story: Eleven years of my life were taken from me due to a 'crime' that wasn't defined until after the judicial decision that unjustly sent me to prison.
For those familiar with Mindful Ethics, you know of my relentless battle with Patrick McFarland—a man who tried to silence my First Amendment rights and block my ability to speak to the press.
If you’re new to my journey, you’ll need to catch up on the details to fully understand the depth of this fight. The links below will bring you up to speed on McFarland's targeted campaign of intimidation (Three back issues of Mindful Ethics).
Note: I urge you—read this newsletter to the end first, then revisit the links for the full picture.
I need your help.
This latest act of retaliation is not only bizarre but strikes at the very heart of my faith, my religious freedom, and my health.
Today, I’m here to share the latest chapter in my battle with him.
Retaliation in Action: McFarland's Violence Against Michael Cohen
To understand the depths of McFarland’s retaliation, we need only look at his treatment of Michael Cohen.
When Cohen exercised his right to free speech, McFarland’s response was swift and brutal. Cohen was thrown into solitary confinement, locked in a small cell for 23.5 hours a day, temperatures soaring above 100 degrees, deprived of basic dignity. He endured excruciating headaches, shortness of breath, and crippling anxiety.
All because he dared to speak.
McFarland’s treatment of Cohen is not just an anecdote—it’s a pattern.
The moment I asserted my right to speak, I became his next target.
Fighting for My Voice: An Eight-Month Battle with the McFarland and the Government
Brief recap: Eight months ago, I embarked on what should have been a simple endeavor—exercising my First Amendment rights to clear my name.
It was about the fundamental right to exercise my First Amendment rights, a right that should not have required an epic battle just to achieve.
But in the world of Patrick McFarland, nothing is straightforward.
What followed was a nightmare of stonewalling and deflection. Every step of the way, I was met with bureaucratic roadblocks, each one carefully placed to drag out the process and deter me from pressing forward.
McFarland himself led this campaign, using his authority to delay, deny, and obstruct.
And then, finally, after eight months of unyielding persistence, I won the right to speak.
But victory came at a cost.
By asserting my rights, I had made an enemy in McFarland, and he was determined to make me pay.
Released In 2020 On "Michael Cohen" Status - Home But Under Supervision
Even if, for the sake of argument, I had been guilty, the principle of rehabilitation should be guiding the Bureau of Prisons’ and McFarland's actions.
But instead of fostering redemption, they’ve chosen retaliation—a campaign of retribution led by a man whose track record with Michael Cohen speaks for itself.
This isn’t just bureaucracy. This is retaliation at its core, and it’s as targeted as it is destructive.
Targeting My Faith
McFarland’s latest target?
My faith—an aspect of my life that has been a source of strength, purpose, and redemption.
I am a legally ordained minister.
Since June 2023, I have delivered over 400 sermons, guiding others toward God, integrity, and ethical living. This is my calling, my identity, and the foundation of the hope I bring to others.
But to McFarland, my faith became a vulnerability—a tool for him to exploit in yet another act of retribution
Two weeks ago, I received an email from him, cold and calculated, informing me that I could no longer call myself “Pastor.” In his words, the Bureau of Prisons does not recognize my faith group in their system, and I was barred from using a ministerial title.
Let that sink in—a legally ordained minister, stripped of his title not by any legitimate authority, but by the whim of a bureaucrat wielding power like a sledgehammer.
McFarland cited a Program Statement, PS5360.10, to justify this order, claiming that those in custody could not use ministerial titles.
To clarify, let’s look at the exact language in PS5360.10: “Inmates utilizing ministerial or religious titles will not be authorized.” This directive was specifically intended to ensure institutional security for those inside prison walls, not individuals living in their own homes.
It does not apply to someone in home confinement who is a legally recognized minister.
For someone in custody, using a steak knife or an iPhone might be restricted, but I’m not in custody. I live at home, I cook with a steak knife, I carry a phone, and I vote. My life isn’t confined by institutional rules, and there’s absolutely no reason why my faith should be restricted either.
McFarland’s email was more than an administrative denial—it was a calculated move to break me. His “interpretation” of PS5360.10 defies not only logic but the very principles of religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment.
This attack on my faith is his way of silencing me, of stripping me of the most sacred part of my life and identity.
Legally and ethically, McFarland has no basis to strip me of my rightful title as Pastor.
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This isn’t a rule—it’s retaliation, pure and simple.
But logic and justice seem irrelevant when dealing with McFarland. He’s made it his mission to deny my rights without a shred of legitimate justification, twisting rules to fit his own agenda.
This is nothing short of retaliation for my previous legal victory when I fought for my First Amendment rights to speak with the press.
Health Under Siege: Denying Essential Medication as Retaliation
If attacking my faith wasn’t enough, the retaliation extended to my physical health.
Recently, I received another blow—an illegal order prohibiting me from taking a medication lawfully prescribed by my healthcare provider to manage my chronic pain disorder.
This isn’t just a medical issue. It’s a violation of my rights under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally funded programs.
The government isn't merely disregarding my health; it’s actively endangering it.
This prohibition is not based on any legitimate rule.
In fact, the rules explicitly state I can take medication prescribed by a doctor, and nowhere does it require further authorization.
A doctor’s prescription is the authorization, yet these “rules” have been fabricated solely to retaliate against me.
This decision isn't based on policy—it’s another example of McFarland’s manipulation, wielding power with calculated malice — a decision that right now is causing me increased physical pain.
My medication was prescribed to manage severe pain—a daily battle that this medication helps alleviate. Without it, I am left to endure constant, grinding pain, all because McFarland and the government have chosen to wield his power in the most callous way imaginable.
Legal precedents like Pesce v. Coppinger and Smith v. Aroostook County have established that denying even people in maximum security prisons access to prescribed medication is discriminatory and unlawful.
But McFarland operates as if these laws don’t apply to him, as if his authority supersedes federal law.
This isn’t a matter of health policy—it’s retaliation, an act of cruelty designed to remind me that he holds power over even my most basic needs.
The Clear Pattern of Retaliation
When you lay it all out, the pattern becomes undeniable.
Every action McFarland has taken, every order he has issued, is part of a coordinated effort to break me.
My right to speak to the press—a fundamental freedom—was met with an eight-month war of attrition.
When I succeeded, McFarland turned his sights on my faith, stripping me of my title as Pastor, knowing how deeply it would wound me. And now, he has come for my health, withholding essential medication and leaving me to suffer.
This isn’t about enforcing rules. It’s about punishing me for standing up, for speaking out, for daring to challenge his authority.
It’s about sending a message that defiance will be met with relentless, calculated retaliation.
Asking for Help is Not Weakness—And I’m Asking for Yours
I refuse to stay silent.
I am reaching out to you today, not just as a reader, but as someone who understands the power of truth and justice.
If you're someone who believes in the strength of the First Amendment, in the sanctity of faith, in the basic right to health and human dignity, then I ask you to help me raise my voice.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
McFarland’s retaliation is a threat not just to me but to every citizen who believes in their right to live freely, to worship, and to be treated with dignity.
I cannot do this alone, but together, our voices are unstoppable.
Let’s show McFarland and those like him that the era of silencing is over. Help me amplify this call for justice, so no one has to suffer in silence.
Stay well. Swim strong!
God Be With You All!
Warmly,
David
P. P. S. ?????? ? If you don’t know who I am, my name is David Vogel, retired CEO turned LinkedIn influencer and Founder of the Church of Unity Society. Six mornings a week Live at 7 AM, I preach to the C-suite, igniting their spirits with the power of God. As the publisher of Mindful Ethics, the unapologetic voice of ethics on LinkedIn, I challenge leaders to elevate their game, lead with heart, and redefine what it means to live with purpose.
? Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Solar Energy Mentor I Streamlining Federal Grant Approvals & Material Distribution for Commercial Solar Projects I Retired CEO Project SunRize I Pastor Church of Unity Society
4 个月Michael Cohen I read that you were subjected to 16 days of torture by McFarland and suffered serious health problems. Unreal the evil of that man!