From just watching that fiasco of a Press Conference, just held by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon in Ferguson -- it seemed like "street security" was the main thing on his mind -- NOT Justice for the death of Michael Brown at the hands of a Ferguson police officer, one week ago.
But through all the pain, rage, pointed questions, and obfuscating answers -- a few finer points were made clear through the non-responses:
Point 1) The County Prosecutor is in charge of "bringing charges" against the Officer -- not the local police chief, not the governor.
Nasheed Calls for McCulloch to Step Down in Michael Brown Investigation
STLouis.cbslocal.com -- August 14, 2014
FERGUSON, Mo. (KMOX) - Today, in a two-page letter to St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch, State Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) requested that McCulloch recuse his office from the investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown so that a special prosecutor can be appointed to oversee the investigation.
Nasheed explained, “This racially charged climate demands an independent investigation, and to be perfectly blunt, the African-American community has no confidence that your office can carry out an impartial investigation and prosecution.”
She cited several reasons for this lack of confidence, including McCullochs’ failure to bring charges against police officers accused of killing two African American men in 2000 – even in the face of the findings from an independent U.S. Attorney Office investigation that those officers had lied about their behavior and fired 20 shots into the unarmed victims’ vehicle.
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Point 2) The County Prosecutor does not have the confidence of the Ferguson community, nor of at least two Missouri Reps:
St. Louis prosecutor has faced controversy for decades
by Nicholas J.C. Pistor and Joe Holleman, STLtoday.com -- August 16, 2014
On Friday, McCulloch faced calls from political foes to step aside in the investigation of the fatal shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown at the hand of a white police officer. State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed wrote a letter to McCulloch [...]
And U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, assailed McCulloch on Friday night on a visit to Ferguson: “We don’t have any confidence in the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney’s office.” He went on to accuse McCulloch of attempting to influence a potential jury by the release this morning of the robbery video at the same time the officer’s name was released.
“Bob McCulloch tried to taint the jury pool by the stunt he pulled today. I have no faith in him, but I do trust the FBI and the justice department.”
[...]
Point 3) The County Prosecutor has already told us where his allegiance lies --
with the Police Dept -- when he slammed Governor Nixon, over his decision to put the Highway Patrol in charge of security, during the Ferguson protests:
Ferguson police ID officer Darren Wilson as shooter of Michael Brown
by Kevin McDermott, STLtoday.com -- August 15, 2014
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The new face of security in the racially tense conflict is Capt. Ronald S. Johnson, a native of the region who is African-American. Appearing with Nixon at a North County news conference, Johnson said his command will employ “a different approach.”
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But St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch blasted Nixon’s decision.
“It’s shameful what he did today, he had no legal authority to do that. To denigrate the men and women of the county police department is shameful,” McCulloch said. “For Nixon to never talk to the commanders in the field and come in here and take this action is disgraceful.
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Point 4) The FBI has been brought in to do their own investigation. Capt. Ron Johnson is actively looking for additional witnesses to come forward and talk to them.
FBI Investigating Ferguson Police Shooting of Teen Michael Brown
NBCnews.com -- August 11, 2014
The FBI is opening an investigation into the shooting of unarmed Missouri teenager Mike Brown by a police officer in suburban St. Louis, officials said on Monday.
“The FBI notified me that they will be opening up a investigation that will run parallel to this investigation,” St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said at a news conference.
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Special Agent Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the FBI's St. Louis office, said they have been keeping an eye on the case since since the beginning.
"We've been reviewing the matter (since Saturday), today we officially opened an investigation into a potential civil rights violation," she said [...]
Point 5) The County Prosecutor is apparently in "
no rush" to bring charges against Officer Wilson, in the Death of Michael Brown, despite the several witnesses that have already come forward, indicating such charges are warrented:
Prosecuting Attorney: No timeline on shooting investigation
by Aja J. Williams, KSDK, ksdk.com -- August 13, 2014
ST. LOUIS COUNTY – St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch said that there is no timetable set for the course of investigation in a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
Previously, several reports said the investigation could take a couple of weeks, but McCulloch said his office still needs to review evidence and speak to witnesses.
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He also said that all evidence of this case, no matter whether charges are issued, would become public.
Apparently "due justice", takes its own damn time.
Point 6) The DOJ, via the request of Attorney General Eric Holder, have opened up an investigation of this Death of an unarmed teenager, as a possible civil rights violation.
U.S. Attorney Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into Michael Brown Shooting
The Department of Justice is investigating whether there were any federal civil rights violations in the shooting death of an unarmed black teen in Missouri
by Maya Rhodan, Time.com -- Aug. 13, 2014
A U.S. attorney announced Wednesday that his office is investigating whether Missouri police violated any federal civil rights laws during Saturday’s shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. The investigation comes at the request of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Richard Callahan, acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Molly Moran and FBI special agent in charge William Woods said in a joint statement they would also collaborate with local authorities while working to determine if there were any state-level violations.
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Here's to hoping Justice will one day prevail in this matter, however slowly it unwinds in America's chaotic and some would say broken Justice System.
America really needs to end our 2-tiered Justice System -- and get back to a system where NO ONE is above the Law. Not even Police Officers who think they can take "the law into their own hands" ... as Judge, Jury, and Executioners.