Like his father, Ammon is a Mormon whose political views align with the Posse Comitatus movement, which sees governmental authority as radiating out from county’s.

The Posse Comitatus Act was passed in 1878 precisely to prevent the federal government from intervening in state and local police affairs.

The appeals court dismissed that argument, saying the surveillance violated the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits military personnel from participating in civilian law enforcement activities.