I'm noticing some heavy spinning going on to down play the DOJ investigation.

[Baitball Blogger]

regarding the Zimmerman case. Anyone else catching it?

[CatWoman]

1. I saw it right here on DU when it was first announced

and after much thought, chose not to respond.

[DrDan]

2. perhaps because the evidence is lacking

[Lurks Often]

3. Maybe because the FBI did their investigation last year and

found no evidence that Zimmerman is a racist.

[Hoyt]

4. Other than a dead black kid, but you can't hold that against a bigoted gun lover in Florida.

[CatWoman]

5. lol

[ananda]

17. A dead stalked and profiled Black kid.

And didn't Z have that racist website that was conveniently removed?

[madville]

21. I don't think he's a traditional racist

I think Zimmerman could have acted racist in his profiling of Trayvon but I don't think he hates black people like we think of when we are talking about traditionally vocal racist people.

I'm sure in Zimmerman's mind he is not a racist, he would point out his black date to the senior prom, his former black business partner, his black relatives that lived with him, or the black children he mentored.

I would say he could have commited a racist act by profiling but does not have a history of being a racist.

It will be tough for a federal civil rights case to be made on what we think his mindset was though, that isn't solid evidence.

[grasswire]

24. a child molester "mentored" children?

Convenient.

[Lint Head]

6. Yes. It's called placating the masses. If the government appears to be doing something it gives hope

and people tend to calm down. That gives the government time to put together a plan to react to any blow back when they give their pat answer that there has been an investigation and they have found that nothing needs to change and there is nothing the federal government can do. It works both ways. If the media can play it down, then when the people are let down, they can say, "See. We told you there was nothing to see here." Then folks can go back to watching American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

[Junkdrawer]

9. +1

[Mojo Electro]

7. What good would it do?

Drag Trayvon's family through another case that will result in yet another acquittal? The original charges were only brought because of public pressure, and the same would be the case if they decide to go forward and have another crack at Zimmy. The evidence is not there.

[CatWoman]

8. you work for DOJ?

I'll bet the same was said in De LaBeckworth's defense too......

[Mojo Electro]

11. Maybe.

In the De La Bleckworth case, that would have been dead wrong.

In the Zimmy case, it's probably true.

See the difference?

[CatWoman]

12. no

[X_Digger]

10. The state bypassing the grand jury was a red flag for some defense attorney friends.

At the time, they wondered if the state thought it couldn't get the charges past a GJ.

[Hoyt]

19. The red flag was that the jury pool in Florida is filled with bigoted gun lovers.

You know, the type that supported SYG laws -- otherwise known as "license to kill black/brown people" among most of the gun culture.

[X_Digger]

22. No dear, the red flag is Corey, who tends to overcharge and showboat.

She's a law'n'order wharrgarble type who lets her mouth write checks her ass can't cash. Like another poster I know..

[Hoyt]

23. Like I said, the jury pool in Florida is filled with Zimmermans and other bigoted gun lovers.

[wercal]

26. That is a very broad brush

Few places are as idealogical homogeneous as you suggest Florida is...the same Florida that voted for President Obama. And, since you should really be talking about the county and not the entire state, 46 percent of Seminole County voted for President Obama.

Maybe the entire state of Florida isn't filled with roaming bands of hood wearing KKK members trying to get onto juries. It might be possible that is was a complicated case, and the jury erred on the side of the defendent. Geeze this is the state that just acquitted Casey Anthony...but for some reason, this acquittal is different, and everybody in Florida must be a racist?

If I lived in Florida, I would take great exception to your emotional and hyperbolic characterization of several million people.

[Hoyt]

27. My opinion and experience, proven again by verdict and B37.

[Spazito]

13. Trayvon Martin's family fully, repeat fully support the Federal civil rights investigation...

so don't 'worry' about them. They, more than many, understand the way the 'justice' system works, wouldn't you agree?

[Mojo Electro]

15. I'm aware that they do fully support it...

Because they hope for (and would expect) a conviction. (not the only reason they support it)

That doesn't make it a good idea IMO.

[Spazito]

16. Well, your empathy for them is touching...

it would be more credible to me, however, were your posts indicating support for them instead of opposition to an investigation of possible civil rights violations visited upon their son resulting in him lying dead, shot in the heart for walking home from a convenience store wearing a hoodie in the rain.

[Mojo Electro]

20. You're changing the subject...

Of course I have empathy for them, they tragically lost their child in a terrible situation that never should have happened. My personal feelings have nothing to do with whether going forward with a federal case is a good idea. The subject of the thread was the possible court case, and supporters/detractors thereof. So that is what I commented on.

[cthulu2016]

14. If so, it starts at the top

The WH knew and knows there will be no federal charges because they would be legally without merit. The possibility was something DOJ tossed out to placate public mood in real-time, with the expectation that interest/demand for such an action would fade.

The WH does not want anyone actually expecting such charges because they will not be forthcoming.

[AgingAmerican]

18. It might upset the Republicans

seems to be the deciding factor in everything

[madville]

25. Here's the problem with a federal case

Zimmerman didn't kill Trayvon because he was black. He killed him because GZ was a coward and was getting his ass kicked.

I just don't see how they can make this a hate crime for a federal murder or civil rights charge based on that defense and that is largely accepted as what happened.