A former Missouri police chief is publicly saying that the Justice Department is actively leaking reports that it has found insufficient evidence to support federal charges against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. There is certainly a long and controversial history of the Justice Department leaking stories to the media to pressure targets or to prepare the public in otherwise secret or confidential investigations. While threatening witnesses and others over any disclosures, the Justice Department does not hesitate to make such leaks for political purposes. The question is whether the recent uptick in leaks is such a campaign. There has been an increase in such stories coming from unnamed Justice sources and former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch says that the evidence has supported the officer on a number of points, including a struggle within the cruiser.
Fitch says that the Administration is seeking to “coordinate leaks to the media, and to start getting some of the facts out there to kind of let people down slowly” because they have concluded that charges are “probably very unlikely.”
While he is not required to appear before the grand jury and the vast majority of targets do not appear on advice of counsel, Wilson appeared for hours. The New York Times reports that he gave an account of a struggle inside of the car and a sharply different account from the statement of Michael Brown’s friend, including an autopsy that says that Brown was shot at close range consistent with the officer’s account. The Times reports that forensics tests showed Mr. Brown’s blood on the gun, as well as on the interior door panel and on Officer Wilson’s uniform. Wilson also reportedly has photos of injuries to his face and neck following the struggle.
There are many who believe that the Obama Administration is signaling that no charges will come from the investigation — with many preparing for the possible unrest and violence that may follow such an announcement.
Source: CBS
Pogo, I didn’t know of your Mizzura connection. Thanks for the demographics. I got to know folks in the juvenile court and DA’s office in the 70’s and 80’s, meeting them @ conferences. They seemed to have more racial problems back then. Those problems only get worse. Thanks for the demographic info. My bride got her Masters in psychology form UMKC.
If the Obama Administration knows that the grand jury is unlikely to charge Wilson, then I might be critical of the grand jury, but I don’t blame the administration for trying to get ahead of the story and prevent huge riots. In fact, I’d congratulate the administration for being proactive.
My daughter went to Mizzou, and St. Louis seemed unsafe when we visited it. My friend works in KC and the vibe was indeed completely different.
KC, MO:
Black alone – 139,193 (30.0%)
White alone – 252,602 (54.4%)
St. Louis, MO:
Black alone – 151,755 (47.7%)
White alone – 135,953 (42.7%)
Ferguson, MO
Black alone – 13,753 (64.9%)
White alone – 6,494 (30.6%)
East St. Louis, IL:
Black alone – 26,179 (96.5%)
White alone – 423 (1.6%)
It’s a known pattern of this WH and its political operative appointees in the DOJ and all other departments. What do you think all the leaks on impending immigration policy moves planned for “after” the election are about? They are trying to have it both ways: let their base no it will happen if they vote for them at the same time not inflame opposition to come out and vote them out by declaring it. Cynical and sad for America.
Next the Administration will claim there are half a dozen unmonitored Ebola exposures somewhere in Ferguson that they desperately need to find, along with faux health workers going door to door. That should effectively keep the streets clear and have outside protesters avoiding the place… Well, like the Plague.
Wouldn’t put it past those not so brilliant political thinkers in DC.
The leak began with the propagandists in the Ferguson police department.
It is filled with wannabe fascists bequeathed with pentagon leaked weapons of mass destruction.
Pogo, St. Louis has been a pressure cooker for a long time. It’s neighbor across I-70, KC, has virtually the same demographic but is much less incendiary. I don’t know why.
http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/2014/10/21/michael-brown-shooting-new-york-times-leaks/17649393/ “Former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch believes more information will be leaked out to the media by a government source. Fitch says this strategy has been used before, “Assuming that the article is correct my belief is that there will be future articles written as probably from the same federal source that will let out a little information each time as it gets closer to the actual announcement of the verdict or charges or no charges.”
Fitch believes the leaked information is an attempt to let some people down slowly, “It was an intentional release with someone familiar with the federal side of the investigation, in my opinion, for the sole purpose of preparing the community for what may be seen for many as bad news, that there’s not going to be any federal charges.”
The New York Times article states Darren Wilson told investigators he feared for his life as he struggled over his gun with Brown according to government officials. It also states there was blood on the gun.
Fitch says the release of information is the second phase of trying to calm people down in case there are no federal charges against Wilson. Fitch says the first phase was announcing the Justice department would review the Ferguson Police Department. Fitch described it as a consolation prize, “It’s basically, we can’t charge him criminally but we can oversee the Ferguson police department and investigate their patterns and practices and how they dealt with the community and then come forward with a series of a recommendation for changes.”
Fitch was the St. Louis County police chief for five years. He retired in February. He has served in law enforcement in St. Louis County for more than 30 years.” Fitch said he believes that the leak of information is a good idea. He said the information needs to come out slowly to calm people down.
Interpretive dance explains out cultural progress in the daze of the conservative insurrection:
Ferguson and much of St. Louis will see a slow but certain exodus over the next 10 years.
Now that rioters are harassing sports fans, the rumors that the Rams might move to Los Angeles become more significant.
Why stay? So that angry looters can wreck your business, your college, your sports stadium?
Now that rioters have sought out college campuses, who would send their kid to Washington University or University of Missouri–St. Louis?
Another Obama ant-iMidas touch!
The St. Louis Post piece this morning explains the officers testimony regarding the subsequent shots.
The Ferguson prosecutor is fabricating a “no true bill” so I do not see a problem with conditioning the public for that outcome.
Leaks really aren’t needed.
Forensic evidence is not about spin, feelings, fairness. Having dealt w/ all types of evidence, it is the most logical, the most impartial, the most color blind. That video in the convenience store told me a lot about the man this officer was dealing w/ just minutes later. LOTS of testosterone.
Report: Autopsy shows Michael Brown was shot in hand at close range
By Holly Yan, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/justice/ferguson-michael-brown-autopsy/index.html
Excerpt:
But Cevallos said the details about Brown’s blood on the officer’s gun and on his uniform might only go so far in helping the officer’s case.
“Ultimately, that officer will have to come up with justification not for firing his gun the first time, but for each and every bullet that came out of his firearm — whether at the car or away from the car,” he said.
Communist agitators, who oozed into Ferguson after the shooting, are on their way as we speak.
There’s a BIG leak in the St. Louis Post Dispatch today. The comments I read are mostly people who support Wilson.
This thread will need constant monitoring.
The administration helped foment this race war. now they want to subdue it?
One would suspect they are afraid that race riots on the eve of the election might affect some outcomes.
The truth finally comes out. Let’s riot. Makes perfect sense to me.
Not a surprise at all. DOJ is absolutely criminal when it comes to leaking instigation or grand jury results when it suits them. How many lives have they destroyed when there was no evidence to convict? Or as in this case, leaked results to boost their PR machine?
What are the chances there will be a leak investigation?