Durham County prosecuting attorney Mike Nifong has cut a deal to save his own carcass. But is it enough?
Facing a chorus of growing criticism, including calls for his removal from the case and even the possibility of being removed from office and worse, Nifong announced today that he was dropping the rape charges against the three Duke students charged in a case of highly questionable integrity. Nifong has let stand the charges of kidnapping and sexual offense, however.
It is clear that in the mind of Nifong, this in some way should be viewed as a compromise--a compromise that he hopes will save his own carcass both personally and professionally. However, Nifong's handling of this case thus far raises serious issues concerning competence and integrity. No amount of attempting to wiggle out of his past gross errors in judgment and honesty will obliterate the stark prosecutorial misconduct that he has exhibited.
Further, Nifong's attempt to save his case against the three Duke students appears to be more of a face saving effort than a true desire for justice. Kidnapping? One of the accusers is quoted by friends and associates as stating she had work to do in order to get money owed to her by some students at Duke.
This has 'set-up' written all over it. And Nifong is a willing accomplice.
The sexual offense charge is yet another ludicrous example of a prosecutor out of control. When the name of the game for a prostitute is S-E-X, and when that prostitute has already stated she had plans to set up the students in question over some money owed to her, how can there be any credible charge of sexual misconduct of any kind on the part of the accused?
And this, once again, is the root of the problem. Nifong has no case. But because he is the District Attorney in an area that is overwhelmingly Democrat, with a large Black population to boot, Nifong is attempting to make a case where this is no case in order to appease his constituency. The Democrat Party in Durham and North Carolina as a whole has a stain on its hands by its refusal to reign in a renegade, out-of-control prosecutor. The North Carolina Democrats will share in Nifong's disgrace.
Most thinking, rational persons will see this move by Nifong for what it is--an attempt to save his own neck and proceed with a case against three innocent persons in order to placate a district that wants the three in prison whether they belong there or not.
Friday, December 22, 2006
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2 comments:
That was a wonderful article. I just dont know what to say anymore. Nifong is a disgrace to his family, to the state of North carolina, to the bench and bar of this country, to all district attorneys everywhere and to the american judicial system.
He is not only a disgrace, he is a criminal. He should be indicted and sent to jail. He should be handcuffed and spend the rest of his life in jail. His name will go down in infamy with the words scottsboro, tawanna brawley, oj simpson, and ken starr. He is not only a criminal, he is an idoit and a fool.
He is a wacko, rogue, persecutor who is completely out of control. He is not only out of control he appear to be menatlly ill and totally and completely incompetant.
He has ruined the duke boys life. They are suspended from school and their families have spent millions to defend them from this hoax! The false accuser should be indicted.
The lacrosse season was ruined, their repuations are in ruin and their families may be in financial ruin. A coach has lost his job. A COMMUNITY HAS BEEN RIPPED APART. Dukes reputation lies in tatters. I can only imagine the emotional, pschological and financial turmoil that nifong has cause to the families.
Nifong has given a bad name to all district attorneys everywhere who do good work on behalf of the american people. All real rape victims everywhere have been set back fifty years. A travesty of justice has occurred and the publics faith in the judicial system is being tested.
Nifong has wreacked havoc on america and left ruins in his wake.
Of course I agree, and I thank you for your eloquent comments.
The question is, when is someone in the NC judidial system going to take the bull by the horns and remove this clown from office? Not only should he be removed from the case but he should be removed from the office he holds, because it is obvious that justice is not his goal.
Martyn
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