Yesterday, on "Politics Nation with Al Sharpton on MSNBC," in a 14+ minute segment, Sharpton reports that Jeff Triplett, banker and part-time mayor of Sanford had to "fight" to get the 911 tapes released. Triplett is quoted as saying:
Everyone was saying to me, "No, no, no, don't turn them over. I just continuously asked, "Why wouldn't we do this? We're not here to hide anything."
Sharpton also reviews this statement by Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee:
Mr. Zimmerman has made the statement of self defense. Until we can establish probable cause to dispute that, we don't have the grounds to arrest him.
Then, Sharpton shows a clip of the funeral director who prepared Trayvon Martin for burial who stated that he observed none of the physical effects one would expect after the fight described by Zimmerman's brother.
While those are points I, and I expect everyone else, had heard or read before, what followed was not only new, but also disturbing.
At this time, there is no transcript of this segment, so if at all possible, the video below is a MUST SEE, but for those who can't watch it, I've tried to transcribe the most salient quotes.
Sharpton then introduced his three guests: Eugene O'Donnel, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former New York prosecutor along with Ken Padowitz, former Florida homicide prosecutor and 16-year veteran of the State Attorney's office and Eric Dyson, MSNBC political analyst and Georgetown professor. While I understand that Al Sharpton has been and can be given to hyperbole, especially in a case like this, I think it's fair to say that his guests are most likely more moderate which is what makes the following so disturbing.
Padowitz explains that George Zimmerman was indeed under arrest by the time he arrived at the police station as evidenced by the fact that he was handcuffed and not free to go.
Under the Florida State rules of Criminal Procedure, according to Padowitz, Zimmerman MUST be charged within 175 days or he will be "forever barred from being charged with a crime in this case."
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The clock is ticking for charges to be filed.