<blockquote
Earlier this month, Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson testified for nearly four hours to the St. Louis County grand jury that will decide whether he will be indicted for the Aug. 9 shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
It was a striking moment. The subject of a grand jury investigation rarely risks the legal consequences of testifying before they have even been charged. But it was, at least in theory, in keeping with the prosecutor's pledge to put every piece of evidence before the jurors. Anthony Gray, one of the attorneys for the Brown family, had a visceral reaction to the news of Wilson's testimony, though: "The only thing that happened for over four hours was Mike Brown's body laying on concrete."
The grand jury began hearing evidence on Aug. 20. In most cases, the prosecutor directs the investigation with specific charges in mind, which then dictates what evidence is presented to the jurors. But not this time. Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, whose office is overseeing the case and who has come under scrutiny in the Ferguson community for his ties to law enforcement, has said that the jury will see everything.
“We will be presenting absolutely everything to this grand jury — every statement that any witness made, every witness, every photograph, every piece of physical evidence,” McCulloch said last month “Absolutely nothing will be left out.”
McCulloch has been a controversial figure. Protesters have pointed to his past, which includes the 1964 shooting of his father, a police officer, in the line of duty. He has tried to counter that through pledges of transparency and assigning day-to-day oversight of the grand jury to two deputies, one whom is black.
Still, the unusual nature of the grand jury proceedings has raised eyebrows, and former prosecutors have told TPM that the approach would undoubtedly give McCulloch some public-relations cover if the jury decides not to indict Wilson. In fact, one suggested that there was a easy way to help one understand how truly transparent this grand jury would be.
"If they're doing this wide open grand jury investigation, is it simply the district attorney's office who's deciding what witnesses are going in there?" Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a law professor at Loyola University in Los Angeles, told TPM. "Or have they reached out to the lawyers of the family or other people? Are they actually soliciting input from other parties?"
"That can give you an idea of whether this is just cover," she said, "or this is really a community investigation."
3.
debbie
It’s bad enough John Kasich is viewing his reelection as a mandate for his policies, he once again proves incapable of hiding his true intentions and attitudes:
Kasich said a second-term administration would advocate what he termed personal responsibility for low-income Ohioans. And he said he’d encourage the better off to assist people in need—apart from government intervention.
“We’re going to get you involved,” Kasich told supporters. “You, the values that you have of personal responsibility and discipline and hard work and loving your neighbor. We need to transfer these values to some of those that are confused about it.”
@lamh36: Blood boiling now. Really? I don’t even curse but this is pushing all kinds of buttons.
9.
CONGRATULATIONS!
This is what you can do when 99% of your population isn’t just poor but dirt poor. Take heed, American middle class! This is what your future looks like…checking pigeon asses for bombs!
He represents everything that is ugly about the GOP. Unlike the obviously crazy people, Kasich and other Ohio politicians like John Husted present themselves as reasonable and nonpartisan even as they rip your lungs out.
I never advocate violence, but I”m impatient for the Universe to hand them what they’ve handed Ohio.
14.
West of the Cascades
So will the Secret Service start doing similar checks for pigeons around the White House? Is Jason Chaffetz on top of this?
WTF?!! SMH. This beyond infuriating, although I should probably be less surprised/upset that Tiger Beat on the Potomac would publish such an offensive, wrong-headed article.
Granted, I have not read the Politico article, mainly because I value my blood pressure and my sanity, but how is POTUS to blame for the Secret Service f***ups? Is Reagan to blame for almost getting assassinated?
Not to mention in the most recent incident, (armed felon riding an elevator with Obama), Obama wasn’t even TOLD about the security breach.The President, any president, but especially this one, has enough on their plate or already without having to consider if their security is being compromised.
18.
Amir Khalid
National security agencies all over the world are kicking themselves: “Inspecting pigeons’ anuses! Why didn’t we think of that?”
Not to mention in the most recent incident, (armed felon riding an elevator with Obama), Obama wasn’t even TOLD about the security breach.The President, any president, but especially this one, has enough on their plate or already without having to consider if their security is being compromised.
He’s just like a ni-CLANG – picking some silly snatch to do a job that only a white man can.
This is kabuki, and simply amounts to whitesplaining on steroids.
20.
Botsplainer
Actually, now that I think of it, he should go full-on Cleavon Little in Rock Ridge, all the way to “do what he saaaay, do what he say!”
The teabigots will react just like the townsfolk of Rock Ridge.
21.
shelley
Will the pigeons be blaming their anal probes on aliens?
“We’re going to get you involved,” Kasich told supporters. “You, the values that you have of personal responsibility and discipline and hard work and loving your neighbor. We need to transfer these values to some of those that are confused about it.”
I wonder if this stuff makes sense to his supporters or do they just cheer because he’s talking? Although the thought of transferring discipline to others probably “raised a few flags” IYKWIM&ITYD.
23.
Captain C
@Botsplainer: “Oh, baby, you’re so good…and they’re so stupid!”
24.
FlipYrWhig
@Shakezula: Republicans eat this shit with a spoon. It validates them as the Good Ones With Values Who Give From Their Hearts, keeping at bay the Bad Ones Who Both Mooch And Hoard And Love Government. That’s the creed of their tribe.
25.
CONGRATULATIONS!
@Shakezula: Every white person I know in Ohio – and sadly, I know quite a few – is eating this shit up. They love it. Some of them, especially the union guys, don’t like Kaisch that much, but he’s speaking their language.
What pisses me off is that the Dems could have easily won this with a mildly Blue Dog candidate, and what do we get? Well, what we’re going to get is a blowout loss against one of the most unlikable governors this nation’s ever seen.
26.
Marmot
Noooo! Check the cloacas!
27.
John Revolta
Stop that pigeon!!
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raven
Chinese proverb say “bird who fly upside down have crackup”!
lamh36
Special Report: Brown Family And Prosecutor Bitterly Divided Over Grand Jury Probe In Ferguson
<blockquote
Earlier this month, Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson testified for nearly four hours to the St. Louis County grand jury that will decide whether he will be indicted for the Aug. 9 shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
It was a striking moment. The subject of a grand jury investigation rarely risks the legal consequences of testifying before they have even been charged. But it was, at least in theory, in keeping with the prosecutor's pledge to put every piece of evidence before the jurors. Anthony Gray, one of the attorneys for the Brown family, had a visceral reaction to the news of Wilson's testimony, though: "The only thing that happened for over four hours was Mike Brown's body laying on concrete."
The grand jury began hearing evidence on Aug. 20. In most cases, the prosecutor directs the investigation with specific charges in mind, which then dictates what evidence is presented to the jurors. But not this time. Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, whose office is overseeing the case and who has come under scrutiny in the Ferguson community for his ties to law enforcement, has said that the jury will see everything.
“We will be presenting absolutely everything to this grand jury — every statement that any witness made, every witness, every photograph, every piece of physical evidence,” McCulloch said last month “Absolutely nothing will be left out.”
McCulloch has been a controversial figure. Protesters have pointed to his past, which includes the 1964 shooting of his father, a police officer, in the line of duty. He has tried to counter that through pledges of transparency and assigning day-to-day oversight of the grand jury to two deputies, one whom is black.
Still, the unusual nature of the grand jury proceedings has raised eyebrows, and former prosecutors have told TPM that the approach would undoubtedly give McCulloch some public-relations cover if the jury decides not to indict Wilson. In fact, one suggested that there was a easy way to help one understand how truly transparent this grand jury would be.
"If they're doing this wide open grand jury investigation, is it simply the district attorney's office who's deciding what witnesses are going in there?" Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a law professor at Loyola University in Los Angeles, told TPM. "Or have they reached out to the lawyers of the family or other people? Are they actually soliciting input from other parties?"
"That can give you an idea of whether this is just cover," she said, "or this is really a community investigation."
debbie
It’s bad enough John Kasich is viewing his reelection as a mandate for his policies, he once again proves incapable of hiding his true intentions and attitudes:
http://www.ideastream.org/news/feature/kasich-rallies-gop-supporters-with-new-jersey-gov-chris-christie
Fitzgerald has zero chance, but I would just about sell my soul to see Kasich get less than 50%.
Paul in KY
@debbie: What a POS.
chopper
that’s…interesting.
lamh36
Ramalama
Nothing like having a back door defense.
Patricia Kayden
@lamh36: Blood boiling now. Really? I don’t even curse but this is pushing all kinds of buttons.
CONGRATULATIONS!
This is what you can do when 99% of your population isn’t just poor but dirt poor. Take heed, American middle class! This is what your future looks like…checking pigeon asses for bombs!
Botsplainer
@debbie:
Punching down, because that is what that Kochsucking motherfucking asshole and his asshole followers do.
I would truly love an opportunity to beat him into a lifetime in a wheelchair with a crowbar, but I probably wouldn’t stop in time.
John Cole +0
And I thought getting through TSA was a pain in the ass.
MomSense
@Patricia Kayden:
If ever there were a time to let the curses rip–this is it.
debbie
@Botsplainer:
He represents everything that is ugly about the GOP. Unlike the obviously crazy people, Kasich and other Ohio politicians like John Husted present themselves as reasonable and nonpartisan even as they rip your lungs out.
I never advocate violence, but I”m impatient for the Universe to hand them what they’ve handed Ohio.
West of the Cascades
So will the Secret Service start doing similar checks for pigeons around the White House? Is Jason Chaffetz on top of this?
West of the Cascades
@lamh36: Good take on this at TPM: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/really-politico
Belafon
@lamh36: Once again, I can’t figure out what’s so different about Obama.
Lady Bug
@MomSense: @lamh36:
WTF?!! SMH. This beyond infuriating, although I should probably be less surprised/upset that Tiger Beat on the Potomac would publish such an offensive, wrong-headed article.
Granted, I have not read the Politico article, mainly because I value my blood pressure and my sanity, but how is POTUS to blame for the Secret Service f***ups? Is Reagan to blame for almost getting assassinated?
Not to mention in the most recent incident, (armed felon riding an elevator with Obama), Obama wasn’t even TOLD about the security breach.The President, any president, but especially this one, has enough on their plate or already without having to consider if their security is being compromised.
Amir Khalid
National security agencies all over the world are kicking themselves: “Inspecting pigeons’ anuses! Why didn’t we think of that?”
Botsplainer
@Lady Bug:
He’s just like a ni-CLANG – picking some silly snatch to do a job that only a white man can.
This is kabuki, and simply amounts to whitesplaining on steroids.
Botsplainer
Actually, now that I think of it, he should go full-on Cleavon Little in Rock Ridge, all the way to “do what he saaaay, do what he say!”
The teabigots will react just like the townsfolk of Rock Ridge.
shelley
Will the pigeons be blaming their anal probes on aliens?
Shakezula
@debbie:
I wonder if this stuff makes sense to his supporters or do they just cheer because he’s talking? Although the thought of transferring discipline to others probably “raised a few flags” IYKWIM&ITYD.
Captain C
@Botsplainer: “Oh, baby, you’re so good…and they’re so stupid!”
FlipYrWhig
@Shakezula: Republicans eat this shit with a spoon. It validates them as the Good Ones With Values Who Give From Their Hearts, keeping at bay the Bad Ones Who Both Mooch And Hoard And Love Government. That’s the creed of their tribe.
CONGRATULATIONS!
@Shakezula: Every white person I know in Ohio – and sadly, I know quite a few – is eating this shit up. They love it. Some of them, especially the union guys, don’t like Kaisch that much, but he’s speaking their language.
What pisses me off is that the Dems could have easily won this with a mildly Blue Dog candidate, and what do we get? Well, what we’re going to get is a blowout loss against one of the most unlikable governors this nation’s ever seen.
Marmot
Noooo! Check the cloacas!
John Revolta
Stop that pigeon!!