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posted by FODU @ 5/31/2006 12:15:00 AM
113 comments
Friends of Duke University
This is a discussion board for the friends of Duke University. At the moment, our focus is on the Duke Lacrosse Scandal. Our discussion board is not affiliated with any organization. All posts will be moderated. The moderator has the right to remove comments deemed inappropriate. Above all, your posts should reflect love and respect for Duke University. You may contact us at: FODU
113 Comments:
What does Joe Neff mean by this: "Our reporters will address your questions and post their answers later this week on newsobserver.com."
Where and when will this Q&A appear on their site?
I just read KC Johnson's latest article (When....Why?). Is there any way we can forward this piece to the NC Attorney General, the US Attorney General, the Attorneys General of the state of residence for the accused, and Duke alums in the media. Charlie Rose, Dan Abrams, Judy Woodruff are all alumni. There might be other with whom I am not familiar. More focus needs to trained on the workings of the NC legal system. It is apparent that state level officials will not act without some "motivation". Perhaps refocusing national attention on this miscarriage of justice would help light a fire under someone's arse in NC. We, as an alumni network, have the resources.
Just a thought.
I agree with the above. We should make every effort to bring this case to the attention of NC Attorney General and others. This issue should not be left in the hands of Durham law. There is no law in Durham, as clearly demonstrated by Nifong’s actions and behavior. This is a demonstration of lawlessness!
I absolutely agree with both comments above. Although we all know the boys are innocent, the abuses by the DA represent an even bigger public issue--and one that should alarm all. Bringing these abuses of power and ehtics/legal violations to the attention of the national media, as concisely and objectively as possible, is a great step toward the goal of affecting change in the NC justice system, and it will refocus media attention on the injustice of the current charges.
The NC officials will not act; they are all tied in some way or another to the participants (Easley appointed Nifong; I'm sure he doesn't want his reasons for doing that called into question.
When a man he had prosecuted as DA was found to be innocent and released from prison, as governor he still refused to issue the man a pardon. He doesn't like admitting a mistake, I assume.)
(and that man has ambitions to be a US senator?)
You may contact the DOJ and the FBI
and urge--no, demand--investigations of the Durham mess.
The FBI has enough agents; it sent three agents to Durham in 2005 to investigate some cross burnings (which were never solved, and which rumor ascribed to black teenagers).
This case includes intimidation of defendants by a certified hate group (black panthers), durnken white cops beating up a black civilian, allegetions of protection rackets for prostitution, corrupt misuse of federal funds, allegations of payoffs in the justice system, etc. etc.
If you wonder why the FBI and the DOJ aren't already involved, write your congressmen and senators and get them to ask the FBI and the DOJ for you.
They owe an investigation to the people of Durham, not just to the players.
Since Governor Easley help create this disgrace, maybe when he runs for the Senate there will be an "ABE" campaign--Anybody But Easley.
No one - but - No one in the city of Durham or the state of North Carolina will ever admitt to making a mistake. They just refuse to swallow there pride " if they have any". They rather let this travesty, happen and to hell with who they hurt. All Nifong wants is to to the next elected judge in N.C. and judge Titus is helping him right on out.
Shocking! Even Susan Estrich abandons Nifong. This is probably as close to as she will ever come to admitting that she was wrong on this case. I suppose, no rat wants to stay on a sinking ship. Let us see when the big rat will jump, and can he swim?
I am simultaneously filled with elation and frustrated by both the N&O piece and the Estrich story. Thrilled that a broader audience appears to be coming to the realization that Nifong is morally corrupt; but frustrated that broader swaths of the media and political leaders do not appear to be picking up on these events. Is there a process/procedure for compiling these articles and distributing them to national media outlets and elected officials?
Is there a process/procedure for compiling these articles and distributing them to national media outlets and elected officials?
Even as we speak, the blogosphere is at work toward this end. Indeed, this blog is part of the effort...
Did I just read the rats are jumping ship? Nifong must be getting deperate!! Maybe there is some glimmer of hope....Maybe (CGM) should jump ship, and recante,this is the only way now anyone can safe any form of face - from that side. SET OUR BOYS GO!!!!
For any lawyers on FODU, can the Attorney General of New York or New Jersey get involved if one of their constituents is the victim of "railroading"? I know that's subjective, but could they come to the aid of a constituent in this particular case. Could the Governors of NY and NJ get involved? Senators? Representatives?
Could the families impacted, hell, could we help get these people involved?
I failed to add, each elected official has a Constituent Services officer. Could they be contacted? It is an election year and protecting a constituent from a serious miscarriage of justice might be looked upon favorably by the voters.
Could the Governors of NY and NJ get involved? Senators? Representatives?
They surely could! They're just waiting to see which way the wind is blowing before they commit themselves.
Well, the weathervane has turned around and there are offings of strong gale force winds in the near future, so if they want to jump in, the time is NOW.
Otherwise, they will just look like slimy politicians trying to get some credit for themselves when it is all over and done with.
Re: 8/9/06 2:42PM post
Clinton, Corzine and Schumer are 3 of the most radical democrats in the senate. Don't look for help from them. Mrs. Clinton needs all the votes should she decide to run for president.
Corzine is the governor of NJ and given the recent spat of the state budget (he shut down the state - which hurt Atlantic City - for a few days in the battle) he might be lookign for some positive publicity.
Hillary, given her potentail desgin on the White House, might want to build her bona fides with moderate voters by being viewed as a law and order type. Given the issue surrounding the phot id, the ACLU wouldn't appear to have any problem, so she wouldn't alienate her liberal base. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have been very quiet in this case, so she wouldn't alienate the black vote.
I, too, am concerned and mystified by Libby's silence. Does she think her Duke degree impunes her credibility on this issue? She's a Harvard trained lawyer for goodness sakes.
We need to remember that most people, including government leaders, do not have the same understanding of the facts that those who monitor this site have. For most people, this is still a case of a black woman possibly being gang-raped by three privileged jocks. Many still believe that "something" must have happened. Any elected liberal stepping into this to defend the boys runs the risk of alienating a good portion of their constituency. However, we should be educating our elected representatives and the national media as to the many ethics violations and the corruption of the judicial process that resulted in the indictments. Some may not be willing to take a stand on guilt or innocence, but could take a stand on the flawed process, and the many violations of NC statutes....And the more people find out about the corrupt process, the more they will understand that these boys are innocent, and the more they will demand true justice.
Since you're talking politics, I know why Dole (Republican) hasn't stepped in and why the NJ & NY senators haven't either.
Regarding Dole: when your enemies are busy destroying themselves, let them. Regarding the other politicians, they're all Democrats, including Niphong and Easley. Since no "right wing conspirator" are involved, Democrats have no one to blame. Democrats have nothing to say when they can't blame: the Christian right, big business, the military, the rich, anti-gay, anti-environmentalist, pro-life, and Southern red-necks (oops, shouldn't that include Niphong?). Did I miss a group? Yes. I did. I missed "the sons of rich white folks!"
Sorry, boys, the Democrats aren't going to step forward - or stick out their necks - just ask Joe L. - for you, but many among the writers to FODU - which I'm sure includes a whole bunch of Democratic voters - have stood and will stand up for you. May God bless their endeavors and grant you and your families peace in the meantime.
Reminder: Duke students go back to school in two weeks. Please remember Collin and Reade - whether in prayer or as you choose to believe - at this time. It will be very hard on them if PC Pres. Bordhead doesn't reinstate them within that time period. When even Susan Eschrich sees the light, Brodhead should hang his head in shame and admit that he has grievously wronged these boys.
New from Liestoppers:
LieStoppers has learned that a grass roots group has filed with the Durham County Board of Elections to form a Political Action Committee to campaign for Lewis Cheek.
As additional information becomes available, we will comment further
http://www.liestoppers.blogspot.com/
Raleigh media are reporting that Monks has decided to run a write in campaign. I think ABN is probably a better candidate, and I doubt that this is good news.
Above 3:21p.m. It looks like you aren't watching: Jessi Jackson and the ACLU are already involved they are the ones paying for the so called victim to stay in out of the sight of reporters. I'm a rape victim and I am watching this case with so much interest, I want to see if see thinks she can stand up to three or moore defense attorney's.
Cynthia McKinney Loss Bodes Well For Durham, Duke Rape Case
By Michael J. Gaynor
Aug 9, 2006
"Cynthia McKinney, the Capitol Hill policeman whacker, Congressional slacker, and loony September 11 theory backer, lost the Democratic primary against Hank Johnson. It was as simple as ABC.
"On August 8, 2006, in Georgia's Fourth Congressional District, the ABC (Anybody But Cynthia) candidate, Hank Johnson, won nearly three-fifths of the vote in a Democrat runoff against incumbent and local political legacy Cynthia McKinney....
"There is an important message in that delightful development for Durham County, North Carolina and the powers that be there -- including District Attorney Michael B. Nifong...."
http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21233201.shtml
see, Mckinney played her race card to well, it bit her in the butt and it just cost her, her seat in congress. Let's see if "CGM" and Michale Nifong will continue to play this on.
every blog says that some form of sex crime happened down in Durham. But how many sexual partners did that girl have that night? And why didn't the other dancer just take her to the hospital after leaving the party? If you put the address of the house the party was at,"through Map Quest.com" the nearest hospital and the store parking lot the went to you will see that the hospital is a lot closer. Did they need that time to get ride of the shoe that is still missing and take the drugs the made the "victim" incoherent? Just a few things to think about, and Nifong I am already thinking of these questions.
Re the above comments about asking politicians and law enforcement officers from New York, New Jersey and Maryland to get involved in this case, Jeanine Pirro, the former Westchester County (NY) DA is the current Republican candidate for NY Attorney General. She is also a regular guest on Greta van Susteren's show. Perhaps she should be contacted about this case. Her website is http://www.jeaninepirro.com/
I'm not sure what concrete steps they can actually take as they are outside the jurisdiction, but I like the notion of them at least using the bully pulpit to question publicly the injustices taking place in Durham.
Thanks are going to get a lot tougher for Nifong
Newest installment
I am pushing for disbarrment for Mikey and a firing of the racist cop Mark Gottlieb
Many people on many boards and blogs have asked about a PAC to defeat Nifong. Liestoppers is reporting that one has been formed.
Here is the information:
---------
The Committee to Recall Nifong - Vote Cheek filed with the Durham County Board of Education as a Political Action Committee according to Committee spokesperson Beth Brewer. Mrs. Brewer indicated that a formal statement would be released Monday. The Committee to Recall Nifong - Vote Cheek may be contacted at 919.310.1147 or bbrewer@recallnifong.com.
----------
http://www.liestoppers.blogspot.com/
I strongly suggest than any bank account opened to support ABN be in some jurisdiction not within Nifong's reach: preferable in another state with a trustee. Don't forget, Nifong doesn't like people who love animals, can you imagine how much he will not love anyone contributing to his ouster. I am a retired banker after 40 years and if you think he can't get the names of contributors, I have that proverbial bridge in Brooklyn I'd sell you cheap. Contribute but CYA.
Here is the link to the Q&A by the News-Observer's Joe Neff:
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/469139.html
Also, a revised version of the story (with a new lead) has been published:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/15236296.htm
Congratulations to Mr. Neff for a fine job (even with the date error in the original story--which did not detract from the impact of the article in detailing the prosecution of the LAX case).
Did Kim Roberts go to UNC-CH? I had read that somewhere and was wondering if it were true?
And does anyone know the true student status of CGM when the "night to remember" happened? Are the folks at NCCU being honest when they say she was a full time student? I really do not see how a full time student would have time for all the tricks she was doing in addition to caring for two kids. NCCU came out squarely in support of her and her lies, and I think someone should look into the credibility of their statements regarding her status at their school.
Some in the media painted her as a "student" who only "danced" to make ends meet. Wasn't Rush Limbaugh soundly scolded when he called her a "ho?" He had to apologize. Geez. What is she? What was she? Is not a hooker a "ho"?
It is time-- past time-- for people to see what this case clearly is about. This is a case of criminals seeking money and power. When this lewd woman could not get the boys to pay for "tricks" with her, she found another way to get attention and make trouble for them. This is a very vulgar tramp who has been exhalted to Mother Teresa status in order to embarrass Duke University and exhort some sort of retribution from the kids who can afford to go there and are talented enough to get in. How lucky Nyfong and his clan were to find a newly chosen President who was willing to play the fool.
Do not contribute to Duke's Annual Fund this year. Use some tough love or Duke will go to hell in a handbag. Duke's thinking has become as confused and manipulative as CGM's. Duke has a cancer growing in it, and thsoe cells must be starved if Duke U. is going to be able to restore itself to its previous health and glory. And not be a laughing stock!
I think all these lacrosse boys will be ok in the long run. I think the truth of this matter is bubbling up and will surface everywhere. However, the boys did NOT create this fiasco by themselves. They had enormous help in the form of the Duke administration. Without Duke's aid, this fiasco would not have happened! With these current dunderheads in charge at Duke, one can expect more debacles to come. It is just a matter of time. Not only Nifong must be terminated from office. He is not the only villain suffering from narcissism!
So, FOD, the goal of this site, I feel, should be trifold: prove innocence of boys, get rid of Nyfong, corrupt cops, and manager, and oust King Richard and his cohorts from the fiefdom of Duke! Banish them! "There is something rotten" at Duke.
Did you watch the movie "Indecent Proposal" with Demi Moore and Robert Redford? Well, the movie is not much really. But, there is a saying at the end. Ever since I watched the movie, this saying registered in mind, and it has helped me on many occasions. This is how it goes.
"If you want something very much you have to let go. If it comes back to you, it is yours, forever. If it does not, it was never yours to begin with."
This must be the dilemma Nifong is facing. He wants to win this case very much. The problem is if he lets go, it will not go back to him. So, obviously Nifong did not watch the movie. "Nifong: If you let go and it does not come back to you, it was never yours; do you get it?"
"Nifong: You reject the assignment of a special prosecutor to this case. You say you are the only one who can prosecute it. Do you know what that means; it means you do not have a case. Any dummy can see that. Time to let go Nifong, time to let go..."
I hope the Q&A thing with Neff becomes a regular feature of reporting on the case. It is an excellant feature.
Saying is:
When hunter seek game in forest where no game exist, game not smart, hunter stupid.
To Aug 9 at 904pm
I live in NJ and I don't think Nifong can touch me.
To the above post. I am also NJ and agree with you - but I only warn our NC friends?
A critique of the N&O ombudsman Ted Vaden:
On his blog, Public Editor Ted Vaden is now finding out just how little NandO readers think of his integrity and his work as an ombudsman.
Nobody is really sure what a “Public Editor” is supposed to do, but we’re pretty sure it isn’t what Mr. Vaden is doing now.
Which is using isolated reader’s comments as a thin pretext to snipe at and second guess Melanie Sill and the other actual Editors.
It would seem he would be far better to reflect accurately what the readers are interested in. Like for instance, the Lacrosse story which since Mr. Vaden has last deigned to cover the topic _4 months ago_ has generated over 1000 comments on the N&O blogs. Probably 10-times more postings than all other topics combined.
Now Mr. Vaden is preparing to address the Lacrosse topic again, but only so he carp about and luxuriate in a single incorrect detail, which was rapidly corrected in Joseph Neff’s story this week.
But of course, Vaden couldn’t care less what the readers are interested in; he has just been waiting in the shadows for Sill to screw up so he could point out what a better job he would do. As a former Editor himself, Mr. Vaden seems intent on turning his column into “that’s-not-how-I-would-do-it” vanity project.
This reader would like to point out that NandO already has an Editor, and doesn’t need an Editor-in-Exile (or as I’m sure Vaden would prefer to see it an Editor-in-Waiting).
What it could have used these last 4 months was a voice for the readers’ concerns, about the feeble and limited way the N&O has covered the Lacrosse story.
We could have used an alternative inside perspective. Not a decrepit symbol of the cluelessness and arrogance of MSM journalists and a (barely) living reminder of the reasons for the impending death of newspapers.
To the poster at 9:04. NC Election laws require disclosure of any campaign contributions over $50. I don't say this to scare anyone off but it's true. Contributions have to be reported to the County Board of Elections and are public documents.
Having said that - what could be better than to vote this man out of office? Please consider supporting the campaign to Recall Nifong by Electing Lewis Cheek.
Thank you to the brave citizens that have decided to lead this effort!
To 11:40 PM post:
First of all, thanks for that information. Do you know if it is just the names of contributors that are made public? What about their addresses or other personal information?
Hypothetical situation:
If an out of state group wanted to buy local radio and TV spots, along with newspaper ads supporting Cheek/Recall Nifong - would State or Federal campaign laws affect such an effort?
A reminder that it has now been three weeks since drunken, racist cop Mark Gottlieb of the Durham Police Department picked a fight with a cook on break, called him a n**ger and goaded his fellow drunken cops to attack the guy.
It has also been 3 weeks since Gottlieb pinned the blame on other offficers and made them take the fall for him.
The Durham Police Department has taken no action against Gottlieb, who he remains on the street.
See new link:
Letter in Herald Sun
two above Nifong will never file charges here's why; Gottieb and his partner are it lead cops on th e duke case and he "Nifong" Needs them to tell the biggest lies of their careers. See all cops stand together., and the cops that are taking the fall don't have as much time in the department as the two of them. So Nifong will NEVER EVER FILES charges against them. All bad rats stand together.
TO MG above:
Don't bet on it. Nifong, for whatever reasons, ownes the PD, the judges and the Governor. I wish it were not so. But, he does not own God.
To 2:15 PM, August 10, 2006 post:
It would actually be up to the Wake County DA to file charges in the alleged attack on a black cook by white Durham PD officers outside a Raleigh bar - BLINCO'S - if I recall correctly.
We need to keep the pressure on to ID the BALD cop, who allegedly instigated the alleged assault.
And remember... it just could be...
GOTTLIEB!
Moved from the Links page:
--------------------------
In the N&O Letters to the Editor:
http://www.newsobserver.com/580/story/468879.html
In a letter entitled Maturity Required, a reader comments on Mike Nifong's bizarre behavior at a recent Animal Control Board meeting, saying that it evidenced his lack of maturity for a job as important as DA:
"In an interaction earlier this year with ACC, a group of citizens tried to express concern over the vague nature of animal control policies and the inconsistency with which they are enforced. At one point, Nifong became agitated, stood up, leaned on the table in an intentionally intimidating posture and as I remember it yelled, 'If you'd been nicer you might have gotten a better response.'"
Add these unfortunate citizens to Mike's hit list -- evidently this guy never heard the phrase "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
I've never come across such a thin-skinned, irrational, paranoid public official in my life. He truly does seem to think that everyone is out to get him and that every endeavor is a personal battle with some set of demons. It must be getting awfully crowded in his head.
RECALL NIFONG - VOTE CHEEK
THE PEOPLE OF DURHAM COUNTY TAKE BACK THE DA'S OFFICE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2006
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Committee to Recall Nifong - Vote Cheek was formed on August 9, 2006 as a political action committee to campaign for Lewis Cheek in the upcoming election for District Attorney.
While Mr. Cheek has declined to campaign for this office, and has stated that he will not accept the position if elected, we believe that this election, and the referendum on Mr. Nifong that it has become, is not about politics but rather about Durham and what Durham stands for.
http://recallnifong.blogspot.com/
In my part of the country, we also look at who created the problem. Let us not forget that Governor Easley appointed Nifong. Who would want a Senator so lack in judgement as Easley?
From today's Herald-Sun letters to editor:
Your Aug. 1 editorial commended D.A. Mike Nifong for stating, "I have not backed off from my initial assessment of the case." This remark deserves scorn, not praise.
First of all, Nifong's claim is untrue. He went public with his initial assessment of the case on March 27. He deemed DNA evidence so vital that he secured a court order to obtain samples from 46 white lacrosse players, promising that negative tests would "immediately rule out any innocent persons." But after the tests produced no matches, Nifong changed his assessment entirely, expressing comfort with the "good old-fashioned way" of witness testimony without DNA corroboration.
More seriously, Nifong's boast reveals a dangerously closed mind. The evidence gathered after his "initial assessment" on March 27 included medical reports from Duke and UNC that undermined his previous public claims; a multi-faceted violation of procedural norms in the photo ID session used to identify his suspects; and electronic evidence of various types proving that one of the players Nifong charged, Reade Seligmann, was either on the phone or a mile away at the time of the alleged attack. Section 3.8 of the state bar's ethics code defines the prosecutor's role as a "minister of justice," not simply an advocate.
Surely a "minister of justice" must remain open-minded to new facts as they become available and be truthful in his statements to the public. Nifong has failed on both counts.
KC JOHNSON
Brooklyn, NY
August 11, 2006
Honest man admit mistake and is honored.
Dishonst man make mistake and blame others. There is no honor in this. Nifong is a dishonor to man.
As Shakespeare wrote in Measure to Measure, Act III, Scene 1, Line 214: "Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful."
What the defense needs is boldness and strength, not meekness or weakness, The kind of boldness showed by Kirk Osborn, Reade Seligmann's attorney, in moving to remove Mr. Nifong from the case for good cause: "District Attorney Mike Nifong neglected his duties as a prosecutor to seek the truth and a fair prosecution. He created an actual conflict between his professional duty to search for the truth and his personal, vested interest in getting elected in the following ways: (1) he ignored the actual facts of the case which demonstrate the Defendant [Reade] could not have committed this crime; (2) he made a series of statement to the national media designed to bolster his election chances while prejudicing the case against the Defendant; (3) he improperly injected himself into the photographic lineup proceedings, causing the Durham Police Department to violate its own policies in an effort to provide himself a source of information from which to indict some, indeed any Duke Lacrosse players; and (4) he denied the Defendant a probable cause hearing where the Defendant's actual innocence could have been shown and the gross deficiencies of the prosecution's evidence would have been exposed."
Yes, judges have put aside the motion, but they soon will regret it. If the motion is not granted soon, the media may make very good use of it at a propitious moment, to the consternation of the Durham County judiciary as well as Mr. Nifong and his political supporters. Exposing Mr. Nifong and exonerating the Duke Three would be a great public service and great television.
Can someone answer me something? I was wondering how do you go about getting a lawyer license pulled? Or please send me to the right web site?
A refresher on US law for Durham judges, DAs, ADAs, and police officers :
Title 18 U.S.C. § 4. Misprision of felony.
Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony cognizable by a court of the United States, conceals and does not as soon as possible make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Title 18 U.S.C. § 241. Conspiracy against rights of citizens.
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any citizen in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his so exercised the same, ... they shall be fined ... or imprisoned ...
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1512. Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant--
(b) Whoever knowingly uses intimidation or physical force, or threatens another person, or attempts to do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person, with intent to --(1) influence, delay or prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding: shall be fined ... or imprisoned ... or both.
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1515. Definitions for certain provisions; general provision.
(a) As used in sections 1512 and 1513 of this title and in this section-. . . (3) the term "misleading conduct" means-
(A) knowingly making a false statement;
(B) intentionally omitting information from a statement and thereby causing a portion of such statement to be misleading, or intentionally concealing a material fact, and thereby creating a false impression by such statement;
(C) with intent to mislead, knowingly submitting or inviting reliance on a writing or recording that is false, forged, altered, or otherwise lacking in authenticity;
(D) with intent to mislead, knowingly submitting or inviting reliance on a sample, specimen, map, photograph, boundary mark, or other object that is misleading in a material respect; or
(E) knowingly using a trick, scheme, or device with intent to mislead;
For ease of use by Durham judges, DAs, ADAs, and police officers :
FBI field office in N. Carolina :
Special Agent in Charge:
Kevin B. Kendrick
Assistant Special Agents in Charge:
Kenneth Moore,
Robert Clifford
EMAIL
charlotte.public@ic.fbi.gov
"Although the FBI operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, our normal "walk-in" business hours are from 8:15 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you need to speak with an FBI representative anytime other than normal business hours, you may telephone the office at (704) 377-9200."
FBI Charlotte
400 South Tryon Street Suite 900
Charlotte NC 28285 - (704) 377-9200 -
Submit a crime tip to the FBI :
https://tips.fbi.gov/
For those upset with the slow pace of progress, I present a flashback:
USA today on 3/30/06
Does someone have access to the list of campaign contributors to Nifong's campaign who gave above $50.
I would be interested in exposing each of them publicly.
Above: Yes, we did come a long way! And, we will continue on this path until the Duke 3 are fully exonerated and Nifong fully punished for his illegal actions.
I am thinking out loud here. Aside from the illogical and false procedures used for the "line-up", and the DNA, and other falsehoods of Nifong, doesn't NC Law REQUIRE the DA to look at exculpatory evidence? If so, and since he has refused to do so, isn't he in violation of NC law? Shouldn't the Governor be forced to enforce the law or is the DA above the law?
Also it seems like our three guys' civil rights are being violated in this case. Where are the Feds on this? Does anyone know if they (Feds)are doing anything?
The News & Observer's know-nothing club weighs in:
http://www.newsobserver.com/1102/story/470200.html
Yeah, sure, that guy has no opinion.
That's a really angry pointless column by this "Dennis Rogers".
Is that the News & Observer so ossified that angry meaningless spew from this guy has acutally been published for 30 years?
Give me a Cash Michaels any day over that BS from Dennis Rogers.
In response to Dennis Rogers article in the Newsobserver today:
The N&O's Rogers: "I'm Not Smart Enough"
August 12, 2006 by Robert KC Johnson
Re Dennis Rogers's column entitled "Lacrosse is just not my game":
Neither, apparently, is investigative journalism.
After the Joseph Neff story, it is apparent that Dennis Rogers dosen't even read the paper he works for. I don't know what kind of reporting that Dennis Rogers, but it certainly is not investigative. He sounded like Sergeant Shultz "I know nothing, nothing".
This post is addressed to Duke students:
All About Voting: What Duke Students Need to Know
This information is provided by the Duke University Libraries as a service to the Duke University community.
The Duke University Libraries do not endorse any political parties or candidates.
How do I register to vote?
Fill out a voter registration form on-line. Then, print it, sign it, and mail it. The mailing address of your state's Board of Elections will be printed on the form for you. You can also fill out a paper registration form, which is available at public libraries, DMVs, and other locations. The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is October 8, 2004.
http://www.lib.duke.edu/reference/virtual/voting.html
Where to file a complaint about the conduct of a N. Carolina judge :
Deborah R. Carrington, Executive Secretary
Judicial Standards Commission
P.O. Box 1122
Raleigh, NC 27602
(919) 733-2690
FAX (919) 715-4703
doesn't NC Law REQUIRE the DA to look at exculpatory evidence?
RULE 3.8 SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PROSECUTOR
The prosecutor in a criminal case shall:
(a) refrain from prosecuting a charge that the prosecutor knows is not supported by probable cause;
(snip)
(d) make timely disclosure to the defense of all evidence or information known to the prosecutor that tends to negate the guilt of the accused or mitigates the offense. . .
(snip)
(g) except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor's action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, refrain from making extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused.
Comment
[1] A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate; the prosecutor's duty is to seek justice, not merely to convict. . .
[2] The prosecutor represents the sovereign and therefore should use restraint in the discretionary exercise of government powers, such as in the selection of cases to prosecute. . . .
. . . the prosecutor should make timely disclosure to the defense of available evidence known to him or her that tends to negate the guilt of the accused, mitigate the degree of the offense, or reduce the punishment.
Further, a prosecutor should not intentionally avoid pursuit of evidence merely because he or she believes it will damage the prosecutor's case or aid the accused.
Contributions of greater than $100 to a PAC in NC must be reported to the BoE by name, mailing address, principal occupation, amount and date contributed.
A PAC treasurer is required to obtain this information for ALL donations (and is subject to audit) but is only required to report by individual to the BoE donations over $100.
Campaign finance reports can usually be accessed at the Durham County BoE website but I had difficulty finding them tonight. The most recent filings were due at the end of July. I'd bet Nifong didn't have many contributions after 5/2 and that most contributions would have been reported in his January and April finance reports.
New rules were recently ratified (that will lower reporting requirements to $50 among other things) - but they do not go into effect until 1/1/07).
With regard to the poster that asked hypothetically... "If an out of state group wanted to buy local radio and TV spots, along with newspaper ads supporting Cheek/Recall Nifong - would State or Federal campaign laws affect such an effort?"
I would suggest a call to the NC State BoE legal counsel - Don Wright 919-715-5333
I would also suggest asking about an individual doing the ads you speak of as opposed to a group. It may make a difference...
Thanks for the campaign information. However, I see no contribution disclosure information for judges and DAs. Are they (the most critical and most likely to be bought) not required to file disclosures in NC?
http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/elec/2006_Election/2006_Candidate_Filin1.html#distr14clrk
Interestingly, I did find that Mayor Bell used his own campaign money to fund Nifong's campaign.
http://www.durhamcountync.gov/departments/elec/Campaign_Finance_Reporting_Archive/2006/Mid-Year_Semi-Annual/William%20V%20Bell.pdf
Durham corruption.
Nifong likes to claim that in his 23 years he has only screwed up in Lacrosse case. But otherwise has done a great, error-free job.
Uh-uh.
It appears that the actions of Nifong's office are fueling a drug-fueld crime wave of murder and mayhem across the city.
Every day this week, Durham police have _re_-arrested men for assault, attempted murder and armed robbery who have been recently arrested or are currently on trial but have been put back out on the streets following ridiculously low bails (most around $10,000) requested by Nifong's office.
A recent example of a known murder suspects roaming Durhams' streets
My guess is that Nifong's stated goal to go easy on violent offenders who are poor and black has contributed to wave of violence by Durham's career criminals. A wave of black-on-black violence, I might add.
He makes up cases that don't exist and coddles the hardened criminals out of white liberal guilt.
Just one more sign of Nifong's ongoing incompetence and misplaced priorities.
I have been researching this case on my own, and what I found out should make the people of Durham-N.C. think twice as to what button they pull in November.
This case stinks!! And all of the crooked cops, judges, and the entire distrist attorney's office needs to be swept clean and all new people brought in.
CGM and Kim Roberts need to go to jail for filing a false police report. And it is false.
Just think why does Nifong need a year or more to bring his case? So he can manipulate all the evidence to fit his version of the so called rape.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying the a hooker can't be raped. But the only place this girl was raped was in her own mind.
That is because he simply does not have one, " a case" and he needs the time for all the crooked cops, judges, and witness to all fall in line and do a Really good job at it.
I have a song I think you should hear? it is called "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia". By Vicki Lawerence. Itwas done in the late 70's early 80's it talk about a murder. But it fits here. Listen to it and you'll understand.
CGM and Kim Roberts need to go to jail for filing a false police report. And it is false.
I think in NC the maximum for making a false police report is $1000 fine and 200 hours or so of community service.
(After all, in our modern society, we wouldn't want anyone, especially rape victims, to be discouraged from filing claims with the police.)
Actually, if the AV and Kim dropped the charges, and wrote a book detailing their true experiences (which means, how Nifong coerced them into this folly), they'd probably be considered victims, be able to get a huge advance and sell the movie rights for a million.
Then that book will sell well along with the other books that are doubtless going to be done about this. If they try to stick to Nifong's fairyland, they're going to come out looking like losers, because then they will appear as victimizers and not victims, and they won't have anything to say afterwards.
Here in the state of Massachusetts the state government needed to raise the limit of time we now have.
We now have 30 years in which to report the crime of rape.
This was do to the Bull S**T Charges brought against the three Duke students. And knowing that right now no person will come forward do to MICHAEL B. NIFONG. HAY NIFONG THANKS FOR NOTHING!!! FROM ALL RAPE VICTIMS WHO NEED TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. Now they can't!!!!
KC Johnson has an interesting and complex article on Broadhead and the new Taliban codes at Duke
which non-specfically target certain segments of the student body using a vague totalitarian conduct code
while the administration encourages and coddles tenured morons like Professor Mark Neal and his nerdy and pathetic worship of drug dealers and street criminals
If I were a newly entering Duke student I would seriously considering no-showing and heading to Montana State, since they have a few openings.
More career criminals let loose on the streets by DA Mike Nifong again terrorizing the citizens of Durham.
Durham crime-blotter
Mikey's too busy reading the blogs and race-baiting, and his ADAs like Destine Couch are too busy doing the nasty and watching porn to actually do their jobs.
For the News&Observer, the "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Award."
After the fine investigative article by Joe Neff, how can they print such drivel as the columns by Ted Vaden and Deennis Rogers?
Vanden and Rogers are obviously not up to date on the facts of this case. They are the ones who should be doing their fact-checking.
Moved from elsewhere (posted on August 9)
------------------------
Following up on some comments in the open discussion session, I think the FODU should put together an unemotional, factual account of the ethics violations and improprieties of DA Nifong (and the durham police) and make an effort to get the news media (NC and national) to start investigating and covering. They might start by copying some of the good articles (Neff, etc.) that discuss this, but might also put together a timeline similar to "what...when" and send to Duke alums in the media. The actions of Nifong are only becoming more suspicious as information is uncovered--his actions seem to be clear violations of the law, but the media has yet to jump on this.
anything FODU can do to light a fire under the media is only going to help the wrongly indicted players and the cause of cleaning up the justice system in Durham.
Above: Thank you for your suggestion. We will give it serious consideration.
Moderator
I support of 10:26 AM above poster. In addition, is there anyway that we can help Colin and Reade to go back to Duke this fall? Do you think writing an open letter to President Brodhead or signing a petition to show our support to these students and stating our belief in their innocence help to get his attention? As 4:32 PM, August 9 poster, from the General Topics section, said "...he has grievously wronged these boys."
I support above posters. If there is some way we could pressure Duke U. to let Collin and Reade attend classes in the next few weeks. I would love to sign my name to anything that would help them out. Even thou I don't live in North Carolina.
Re the article in Duke Magazine -- the exchange between Mark Anthony Neal and Tracy Sharpley-Whiting is at times so incoherent as to be stupefying. By the time I got to the "discussion" of the "strip club as the new church" I was fighting to stay focused and to follow the increasingly muddled exchange of verbiage that I can characterize only as mutual intellectual masturbation (sorry -- but it's the most apt image that comes to mind when I watch two so-called intellectuals so in love with the sound of their own voices that they miss the fact that none of the what my mother used to call $5 words they're stringing together make any sense whatsoever.) I've now read the second part of the article twice and am still at a loss as to how to articulate the point either of them is making about the connection between strip clubs, hip-hop and black feminism.
Kudos to Duke Magazine for scoring such a terrific piece! You've succeeded in muddying the waters for any readers looking for a thoughtful piece on the evolution of hip-hop. Instead they've been treated to a window into the self-conscious world of "thugniggerintellectual" Neal. After all this time, he can't go to the local Starbucks in Durham and feel that he is perceived as someone from academia simply because he's black? He needs counseling. Better still, he needs to spend time volunteering in a racially-mixed environment where folks of different racial backgrounds work together to achieve something good for their community. Perhaps that will help to dispel some of his paranoia and allow him to return to academia with a more positive, less insular outlook.
Re: Collin and Reade attending classes. Assuming they DO want to attend, the first question is whether the university REALLY has a policy that those with felony indictments cannot attend classes. I believe this is what the university has claimed, but it is my understanding that there has been at least one situation in the recent past when this "policy" not been enforced. If someon has a connection with student affairs office (or whoever enforces this policy) clarifying this policy would be the first step.
Even with the atrocious, academic-speak can't conceal a rather astonishing contradiction.
That a Duke professor, Mark Antony Neal, is lionized by official Duke in their magainze for embracing strip clubs, thugs and drug dealers
whereas Duke students are called "wolves in khaki" and reprobates for hiring the same strippers.
The fact that Mark Neal is a nerdy (and dirty) old man trying to suck up to teenage black felonies is probably the real crime.
That and that fact that Neal has no academic talent whatsoever.
Re above: This is an urgent matter. We need your ideas and suggestions on what could help expedite the reinstatement of Collin and Reade back to school for the fall semester. If you know anyone in Duke who was indicted but not suspended, let us know. We know people who committed crimes "serious crimes" and got away with nothing. Do you know any cocaine dealers who got busted but did not get punished; any real rapists who got excused; any students threatening the lives of faculty who went unpunished? Now, is the time to share such information with the Duke Administration and ask tough questions. Let us put our collective knowledge to work here. There is no guarantee of success, but it is worth a shot. At least, we can expose some people for who they really are and demonstrate how “selective” they can be.
A concerned Duke friend
above 12:26p.m. I agree with you. Did anyone notice or hear that there was a Sexual Attack on the campus of Duke U Centeral Campus. on 8/2. and the person who was raped " student" white and attacker "black" she told police everything, in one shot. Police still looking for attacker.
I'll bet not much will be made of this becasue it is the other way around and Nifong won't get his face in the papers as an honest and creditable D.A. and now no one will believe a thing that blow hole he calls his mouth.
Not much will be made of this case because there are no Lacrosse Players involved. Quick someone go call Collin Reade and David. So they can try and clear their names from that one.
I do not want to be the voice of doom here, BUT it has been my experience with college administrators and presidents that they do not know the meaning of the word COURAGE. Political correctness trumps HONOR, belief trumps FACTS. Truth has become a casualty in academia and most administrators exemplify "The Peter Principle."
I agree that Reade and Collin should be reinstated, but do not get their hopes up. Obviously, Broadhead is every bit the coward he has appeared to be, and Duke is going to be a very unpleasant place to be for the next several years. I cannot imagine, given the new, vague code of conduct that has been promulgated at Duke, that Broadhead will make any effort on behalf of the boys.
I'm sorry to be a wet blanket, but there are few men or women of courage on college campuses today. Self-righteousness and self-preservation seem more the norm. Broadhead won't see what he's done to a fine university until the U.S. News college rankings drop off because the Duke yield will decline. Then, he'll blame something else, not the environment he's created on campus.
Texas Mom
A staff writer at tne N&O wrote a column in the 8/12 edition titled "Lacrosse is just not my game", the premise of which is that partisans of each side should shut up and let the legal system work like it should.
http://www.newsobserver.com/135/story/470200.html
I sent him a reply as follows:
********************
I would have found your studied neutrality on the story more believable and acceptable if you had not characterized the players' version thus:
"The lacrosse players say, nope, they don't remember a thing."
In fact, the lacrosse players through their captains denied any sexual contact occurred between any of them and the accuser, consensual or otherwise. They categorically denied any sexual assault. Dave Evans said in his public statment on television that the allegations were "fantastic lies".
I agree that some of the conspiracy theories floated in the blogosphere are pretty fantastic.
For more grounded people, though, we would be happy to "let the legal system do its job" except for the legitimate concern that prosecutorial abuses and variances form normal procedures have corrupted the normal process for Mr.
Nifong's political gain. The only way to prevent continued abuses, in this or subsequent cases, is to shine a bright light on them and describe how they do not fit the established norm of criminal procedure in American justice. You're welcome to stay ignorant of them, of course, but thank goodness for reporters such as Mr. Neff who are willing to shine the light into dark corners.
***************************
Wow.
Cash Michaels all but calls Mike Nifong a liar and a fraud in his piece today
DURHAM CHIEF BACKS DUKE PROBE
That leaves the Durhan-Sun's dishonest weasel editor Bob Ashley as the sole Nifong supporter left in the local media.
I suspect Ashley will go down with his rogue DA hero.
I just came back home from a stop one of the people who are running for governor Of the state of Massachusetts. I spoke with him for just a few minutes. I asked him for his thoughts about Nifong. All he could do was laugh. He the person I spoke with is a lawyer. He said that the defense already has more than what they need at this stage for an apeal. If this goes to trial. And he thinks if it goes to apeal, that the boys will walk out the same door we all use to go in and sit down. The one thing he did say to me is that the damage has all ready been done. Not only to the young men but to their families. and not just Reade, David and collin. But the entire team as a whole. You have Nifong and his hatred of the Lax team as a whole.
We need one person of courage to step up and do the right thing at Duke! Dooes one exist!
Shattered Dreams
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Cowardice asks the question “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the questions, “Is it politic?” But conscience asks the question “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.”
I now implore Duke University, administrators, faculty and staff to heed these great words and do what’s right. One of the greatest tragedies of the lacrosse team’s “Spring of Sorrows” has been the appalling silence of their professors and administrators who have not spoken on their behalf. The lacrosse team has been forced to listen to the strident clamor of those who rushed to judgment and wanted to condemn them without evidence, specifically the “Gang of 88” who took a full page ad condemning the lacrosse team on March 29th. (As of the writing of this letter, July 12th, this flyer is the first item that appears on the Duke website under African American Studies.)
However, as the truth unfolds, and in light of the forensic and objective evidence that exonerates these men, no one from Duke University, except Kerstin Kimel and Professor Coleman, have taken the high road, the moral road and publically spoken in support of these three falsely indicted young men and the lacrosse team in general. Quite the contrary, a wall of professorial silence exists.
The role of educators is to build people up, not tear them down. These young men are on their journey through life, and we as parents have taught them they are never alone. We have taught them to ask for help. They have continually asked for help from their university, Duke University, only to be denied. Where is Duke University’s helping hand?
Pres. Brodhead has stated, “the test of a school is not preventing bad things from happening, but addressing them in an honest and forthright way.” President Brodhead has failed the lacrosse team and more specifically these three falsely indicted young men miserably. In addition, President Brodhead has failed Duke University and everything it is supposed to represent. By failing to support his students in the face of a clamoring mob of protesting professors, he sent a clear message to every parent and prospective parent that Duke will always do what is politically correct, even if it puts their sons and daughters at risk. The “bad things” that happened at Duke are, a miscarriage of justice as Mr. Nifong continues to pursue this case, with unbridled authority with total disregard for the truth, making Coach Pressler and the lacrosse team the sacrificial lambs for the inadequacies of other administrators and a University that lacks the courage and foresight to step forward in support of these young men, as this travesty continues.
Duke University should look at these three falsely indicted young men as role models on how to conduct oneself in a time of crisis. Out of their “Shattered Dreams” have emerged three courageous young men, whose lives have been altered, who stand by the truth, exemplifying what honor and dignity are by taking the high road when others have tried to tear them down. I have looked into the hearts and souls of these young men, and have seen the devastation of their shattered dreams. Shattered dreams, not of a lost lacrosse season, but dreams of attending a prestigious university that did have, “the willingness to take candid measure of its strengths and to make the changes that would enable it to grow and improve,” to quote President Brodhead. Clearly, Duke University has not taken such measures. Shattered dreams of lost faith that people are good and honest, lost faith that the words integrity and character mean something. Duke University needs to take measures to restore hope in all the members of the lacrosse team that the truth will prevail. Hope that individuals understand you cannot right injustices of the past through injustices of today. It is not easy to take the high road, but it is necessary for justice and the truth to prevail.
I implore Duke University to take the first step. Allow Colin and Reade to resume classes in the fall with their classmates. Where is the presumption of innocence? Duke University should not strip these young men of their constitutional rights. This would just be another travesty.
Elie Wiesel stated, “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” Duke University must protest the injustices that have been heaped upon these young men and to do the right thing. In doing so, Duke will take a step in making this a time of education; putting forth Dr. Martin Luther King’s ideal that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
To the 7:15 Poster,
Thank you for an outstanding appeal to Duke and to all of us to do the next right thing. Your post is inspiring and well written.
Texas Mom
I am old and have heard Dr. King many times. It is a shame that his message that was not male vs female or black vs white is being destroyed by Mr. Nifong's disregard for decency.
I can just look into the eyes of these young men and see they are telling the truth. Only a guilty person would hold their head low in shame. These young men don't and they have nothing to be ashamed of. I saw David when he turned himself in and made his speech, I saw Collin in his case in D.C., and the only person I have not seen really well was Reade, But from what I did see I can say I stand behind them.
I hope when these false charges are found out to be just that, we the people who stand behind these yong men, do everything in our power to bring these two MONEY HUNGRY "DANCERS". To justice that they deserve.
And make sure that Michale B. Nifong never gets the chance to pratice law ever again.
Does anyone remember Kim Roberts went shopping for a Public Relations Rep. To Spin her version of the truth her way as to make as much money as she could in as little time as possable.
We need all rape victim's who think this is a load of crap as do I. To write Nifong by what ever means and send it to him letting him we are not going away till these false charges are dropped.
To 5:30 PM, August 14, 2006:
People should read the latest Cash Michaels article, linked in your post. No one to this date has been able to get much traction in Nifong's core base with such arguments as Michaels lays out.
Maybe Cash will be able to get some purchase.
When does Nifong get his watch?
http://tinyurl.com/qqecl
I agree with above. Cash's article is the most straightforward and honest indictment of Nifong yet written, because it lays the blame at Nifong's feet completely.
Not with cowardly Broadhead, or corrupt Bill Bell, or sex addict Destine Couch or even gullible inspector Cloiseau Himan.
Who are all bit players.
But with Nifong, who purposely perpetrated this scam for his own political benefit.
We have gotten away from the core evil here, it is (and always will be) Nifong
Re above: Let us hope Cash Michaels smells something about the way this case is going. Why else would he be singing this new tune?
Cash on WLIB-AM With Gary Byrd This Morning
Re Cash Michaels on WLIB (link at 2:10 AM post above):
He sounds downright contemptuous of the DA's case - even moreso than in his written article.
Both the article and the interview are must reads!
A letter today to Durham Herald-Sun Editor and his Staff
----------------------------
I see that the fine tradition of making up fake news continues in today's Herald-Sun.
Exhibit #321:
Editorials by Bob Ashley morphing mysteriously into fake newspaper articles
Yesterday: Ashley and lackey John Stevenson pen their 20th
editorial defending Nifong and ridiculing his opponents.
August 14th
Today: Stevenson pens a "news article" mysteriously identical to the Editorial.
August 15th
Soviet-style. What's next Ashley, airbrushed photos
of the city council meeting?
Exhibit #322:
I accuse Ashley in front of his writers of running a
fake newspaper operation. Of valuing "Truthiness" over
the Truth.
He flips out. And then commissions a story for today's paper, accusing the "Durham Skywriter" of being the _real_ fake news operation in town (of course, only proving my point).
Durham Herald-Sun compares itself unfavorably to an advertising flyer
Does anyone have a link to an archive of the video of Dave Evans' statement on April 17th or 18th? I read the text of it on the Messages to Players section on this site and was impressed all over again. But I remember being even more impressed by his demeanor and delivery. It was delivered with confidence and poise, without anger or rancor; quite a credit to his parents, his university and his coach.
I have e-mailed John Stevenson a few time, but my last one got a one line response. I am not replying to your email address again. All I stated was the truth, he was not an investigative reporter, just a Nifong supporter. His stories were slanted in support of Nifong and the crooked lying investigator Himan. I recommand everyone write Stevenson if they have a complaint at: jstevenson@heraldsun.com
Stevenson and Ashley are a little sensitive these days cuz they have been exposed as charlatans.
For those interested in how Ashley got his job. Here's a flashback to his first day at the HS in January 2005.
It's been downhill ever since.
above two: 10:38 a.m.?
David's statement;
was very powerful, court T.V. shows it everytime the lawyers go for each hearing. I'm told the reason they play that speech back after coming back from each station break is because it is so very powerful. I can tell he speaks from the heart and not with any kind of shame. He and the other players have no reason to be ashamed. I see it in how he carries himself, speaks, and if you listen really careful you will hear his voice cracking to the point he is holding back tears.
CGM and the second dancer are olny going after money and now the rest of the country sees this case for what it really is. an EXTORTION attempt.
A person who is guilty of the crimes that he is facing would not want to stand out there and try to tell what happeded and be yelled at. He gets my vote for D.A. there we go put Nifong up against David and lets see who wins? My money on David
I heard some loud mouthed women who said she reps. for all rape victims. Sorry she does not speak for me at all and I am a survivor of rape.
The coverup by the Durham PD of the cops attack on a line cook in July continues
Court date put off
It has now been a month since drunken racist cop Mark Gottlieb of the Durham Police Department called a line cook a N**&ger, directed his fellow cops to attack the cook and then pinned the blame on other officers.
The Durham PD has covered this up and the racist thug Mark Gottlieb remains on the street.
Nifong NEDDS this cop to much. He will keep putting off any court date, see He doesn't want to prosecute the duke case. Because it will interfer with his run for D.A. that is why it will be held next year.
And for the Cops Will never go to trial. In Nifong's mind the racist cops are not not big a deal.
The Duke case keep it alive as long as possible, to make him look like he cares about the justice system. Trying three innocent young men v. the racist cops of his own city.
Which is more important to him Follow the money trail. I.m not kidding.
Folks,
I've just read on TalkLeft that Reade's cab driver/alibi witness had his trial date set for the end of August- about two weeks away- AND that thecharges have been CHANGED to aiding and abetting a misdemeanor theft! The woman he drove to the store three years ago, who had pled guilty on the original shoplifting charge, was arrested on some sort of new charges about five weeks ago. Now, does anyone else want to challenge Collin's lawyers about providing his alibi??? Obviously, while Kim gets preferential treatment for changing her story to (sort of) corroborate the AV, anyone who can provide an alibi for Dave, Reade or Collin is in jeopardy. Where IS the FBI/DOJ? I feel as though I'm watching a rerun of "The Godfather."
Texas Mom
with the charges being changed, it shows that Nifong is getting desperate because he"Nifong" knows he has no case. I think Nifong should stand up and be a man.
Sorry he is - is a boy in men's clothing and he can't admitt defeat. Not with people putting a lot cash in his re-elecion. Nope he wont be a man here. CONVICTION AT ALL COST.
Even a the expense of the 47 lives he has torn apart. Wondering 47?
Reade, Collin, David and the rest of the lacrosse team that he has recked. Nifong is no man of honor but a lawyer who needs to be stopped at all cost NOW!!!
Does anyone know how long, Investagator Himan has been a police officer? How long has he been an investigator? Where he went to learn about being an investigator? I just can't believe that he would swear to an afidavit, to a report that he had not seen. He is a disgrace to the police community, which I retired from.
above JWD: you must have been one of the honest cops in Durham. Now there is only the trash left. It sounds like it is time to do a lot of house cleaning and Hinam? and his partner should be the first two to go
If the turn around by Cash Michaels has legs and becomes better understood within the Black Community, ie that they was 'used' by Nifong - its all over for the twerp - there's no place to hide
Can someone please help me? I would like to know if anyone could cind my the E-Mail address and the Building address for Judge Kenneth Titus. I think it is about time we start writing him and demand that either he force Nifong to show all of his hand or drop the charges. This can't go on any longer. We have rape victim's up here who wont report the crime.
When I ask why? They say only one word and one word only NIFONG!! I hope he is happy now that he has made it his mission to ruin the lives of every young female in america. Just to get his vendetta.
A letter sent to the Herald-Sun's reporters yesterday.
An interesting new figure is emerging in the Lax case. She is ADA Ashley Cannon. Cannon was the ADA pushing the bogus noise violation charge against Evans (after a charge threw out identical complaints) and now pursuing the absurd but malicious prosecution of the cabbie.
Ashley Cannon appears to be a deeply unethical lawyer and Nifong's "right-hand man".
It is likely that this woman is the only in the DA's office who is as deceitful as Nifong. Maybe the only one who the famously paranoid Nifong can count on to push his fraud forward.
(well some ADAs like Destine Couch and Luke Bumm are a bit shall we say _compromised_ to serve as Nifong's Igor)
We should expect to see a lot of Cannon in the upcoming travesty.
--------------------------
To the Durham Herald-Sun reporters:
Below we recount one of many actual stories you won't _ever_ read in the Herald-Sun and why
The story: Mike Nifong's office is preparing to frame a black immigrant cabbie for a 3-year old bogus charge of "abetting" shoplifting.
Why you paper won't do an actual investigation of this travesty: Bob Ashley is corrupt and desperate to be accepted by the Durham power-brokers. He will _never_ do anything to threaten the town's politicians, police or prosecutors.
Instead, Ashley's lackey John Stevenson will tomorrow write a lame four paragraph summary of the case, covering up the gathering factual evidence that the case represents overt prosecutorial abuse and the strong implication that Nifong and one of his ADAs will induce perjured testimony from a career criminal who Nifong has repeatedly failed to prosecute.
Here is the real story, not covered by your newspaper:
Moezeldin Elmostafa is of course an alibi witness in the Lacrosse case.
Nifong's office, eager to discredit this witness, ran a huge series of employment, bank records, criminal and credit background checks on this poor guy that revealed only a 3-year never-served warrant apparently sworn by a security guard for some trivial $200 shoplifting of several handbags by a cab fare of Elmostafa.
The case was long ago resolved with a conviction of the thief- a career criminal with an interesting connection to Nifong, described below.
Nonetheless, without further investigation, Elmostafa was immediately arrested in May by...naturally, the chief Lacrosse police investigator and his henchman R.D. Clayton (who are both under investigation for threatening a black man in Raleigh and calling him a "N&*&")
-The Herald-Sun has stopped covering the Clayton-Gottlieb case, for obvious reasons related to Stevenson's close relationship with one of the accused cops-
This police investigator himself directly linked Elmostafa's May arrest to his alibi report in the Lacrosse case demanding as he cuffed Elmostafa "Is there anything you want to tell us about the Lacrosse case"
An overt case of witness intimidation. Which Stevenson will omit in his report.
Despite the bogus nature of the charge against Elmostafa, Nifong's office did not drop it but today changed it to a patently ridiculous charge of "aiding and abetting" handbag theft. (Stevenson will spin this as charge reduction; a sign of Nifong's goodwill)
Remember that this bogus prosecution is for driving a cab fare to a mall 3 years ago where the real thief who he never met before or after stole a couple of handbags.
So who is the thief? Well she is Lisa Hawkins who has been arrested over 20 times for drug offenses, theft and minor violent offenses over the last 20 years.
http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/apps/offender/offend1?DOCNUM=0174277&SENTENCEINFO=yes&SHOWPHOTO=yes
Stevenson will not mention this.
[[Major aside: Hawkins is the tip of a very large problem related to the complete failure of Nifong's office to successfully prosecute in a timely or effective manner , the tiny minority of Durham's citizens who are horrific career criminals. These few have committed many murders, armed robberies and assaults while Nifong's office fritters away their time on bogus cases.
Now here is where any self-respecting journalist worth his salt would step in. But this glaring threat to public safety has been completely glossed over by your newspaper's corrupt crime reporter John Stevenson. And has been _intentionally_ edited out of your paper by Mr. Happy-Face Ashley]]
Back to the case at hand:
To support the absurd "abetting" charge against Elmostafa, Nifong's office has now been widely suspected of applying pressure to this actual thief to change her story.
This is not an unfounded accusation.
Already in the Lacrosse case, Nifong has done this with convicted embezzler and 2nd Dancer Kim Roberts-who remains free without repercussions months after flagrant violations her prior convictions. And is now "cooperating with Nifong", according to her attorney, the most prominent Nifong support in Durham
(a story completely unreported by the H-S)
And Nifong has already done it with rape accuser {{name omitted}} boyfriend, who was arrested by Durham police following the March incident and then cut a deal with Nifong's office.
And what is Nifong's leverage over the career criminal Ms Hawkins?
Well turns out, Hawkins was rearrested again (the 21st time?) and convicted in April and then had her parole revoked at the request of Nifong’s office in July.
This is strong indirect evidence that Nifong and his ADA Ashley Cannon plan on pressuring Lisa Hawkins with the threat of continued imprisonment to lie on the stand about the cabbie having advance knowledge of her intent to steal handbags.
An absurdly desperate but entirely consistent act for Nifong and Cannon, who previously pressed bogus "noise" complaints against one Lacrosse player after a judge threw out identical complaints against another player.
If y'all don't think it's a problem to have a rogue DA operating an intimidation racket in Durham, that's your problem.
But do your job.
Your Editor Bob Ashley is corrupt. He is so desperate to be invited to banquets by the Mayor, he wouldn't report a murder that happened in front of him since it would "harm Durham's reputation".
But that doesn't excuse y'all from standing up and doing your jobs as reporters.
Like Cash Michaels. Like Joseph Neff. Like anyone with half a brain and pride in their work.
In the 2 years since Ashley took over your newspaper, it has become a joke. Full of happy talk and intentional misdirection.
You have nothing to be proud of.
From today's NandO
"In other news, attorneys for the three indicted Duke University lacrosse players met with District Attorney Mike Nifong and court officials Tuesday afternoon to discuss having the case declared exceptional. The designation would attach a single judge to handle the pretrial matters and the trial. That judge would have the authority to set hearing dates and handle other scheduling issues.
After the meeting, Durham Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson said all parties had agreed on a single judge to nominate to state court officials, who must approve the choice. Hudson, who presided over the highly publicized murder case against novelist Mike Peterson, would not say who the nominee was but confirmed that he would not be handling the lacrosse case."
Development
above: if this judge comes for anywhere in the North Carolina area, I will not trust them. This case needsto be moved right out of Nifong's hands and anyony else in that office and out of the south. I don't trust the laws anywhere south of New Jersey. No Help for Reade thou.
It is funny that Elmostafa's charges are being changed because of the discovery of a surveillance tape. How about changing/dropping the charges against Reade Seligmann after the discovery of his surveillance tape at the Bank? Oh, yea Nifong and the criminals only look at he tapes they choose to look at. Nifong will burn in hell, his time is coming, just wait and see.
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