Efforts have failed to release the transcripts for the secretive grand jury that declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the July 2014 death of Eric Garner, after the New York Court of Appeals denied the motion yesterday. According to the New Republic:
“Motion for leave to appeal denied.” Grand jury transcripts from the Eric Garner case will remain sealed.
On Monday, New York’s Court of Appeals issued that six-word ruling, ending efforts to open records to the public after a grand jury declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo and other officers involved in Garner’s death. In July of last year, Pantaleo wrestled Garner to the ground and put him in a chokehold after suspecting him of selling loose cigarettes. Garner’s death was ruled a homicide—a medical examiner found that the chokehold killed him—and Garner repeatedly told Pantaleo, “I can’t breathe,” but there have been few meaningful consequences for Pantaleo or the NYPD.
The grand jury proceeding, which had 14 white jurors out of 23, failed to indict Pantaleo despite the homicide being captured on camera and despite the chokehold being a clear violation of police policy. After the failure to indict, judges ruled to seal the records. Daniel Donovan, the then-district attorney of Staten Island, called the initial ruling “well reasoned.” Donovan has since been elected to the United State House of Representatives. A federal investigation is still underway in the case.