(Duke Rape Case DA) Nifong's Non-Apology Apology

[Rage for Order]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070413/ap_on_re_us/duke_lacrosse;_ylt=AmRaktFLPd0v3RiE1Kiwe6LMWM0F

Duke DA apologizes to players
By AARON BEARD, Associated Press Writer

The local prosecutor who charged three Duke lacrosse players with raping a stripper apologized to the athletes Thursday and said the North Carolina attorney general's decision to drop the case was right. "To the extent that I made judgments that ultimately proved to be incorrect, I apologize to the three students that were wrongly accused," Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong said.

In what appeared to be a plea to the athletes not to take any further action, such as a lawsuit, he said: "It is my sincere desire that the actions of Attorney General Cooper will serve to remedy any remaining injury that has resulted from these cases."

Nifong stressed that it was his own decision to remove himself from the case that gave Cooper's office the opportunity to review the evidence against the athletes.

"If I did not want to subject ... my own performance to such scrutiny — if, in other words, I had anything to hide — I could have simply dismissed the cases myself," he said. "The fact that I instead chose to seek that review should, in and of itself, call into question the characterizations of this prosecution as `rogue' and `unchecked.'"

more at the link

He can't be serious? "To the extent that I made judgments that ultimately proved to be incorrect, I apologize..."? He's claiming his judgment of the "evidence" against the 3 players was merely incorrect, which is obvious BS. He conspired with the DNA testing lab to withhold findings from the defense, held news conferences in which he referred to the lacrosse players as "a bunch of hooligans", and said several times that members of the lacrosse team were not cooperating with investigators, which was not true according to court documents. But all he's guilty of is incorrect judgment? This guy is a piece of work. Notice the only thing he semi-apologized for was his incorrect judgment, and he hopes the fact that the state AG has declared the boys innocent will "serve to remedy any remaining injury that has resulted from these cases."

He might want to reconsider his retirement plans, because I have a feeling that his assets will belong to someone else soon.

[Erika]

1. Unless the rich parents bought off the witnesses

The Duke boys best not get too cocky.

[Rage for Order]

2. Huh?

There were no witnesses to buy off. Add to that the fact that the state Attorney General had his staff thoroughly review all of the evidence and held a news conference delcaring that not only were the charges being dropped, but the 3 accused are innocent. And he stressed the word "innocent". And now Nifong agrees that the AG made the right decision in dropping the charges. I'd say the Duke boys can get plenty cocky.

[Erika]

3. The accuser was a witness

Some rich boys who had nothing better to do than hire a stripper. The University is selling the house the frat boys lived in.

[msongs]

6. sounds like you have issues does it not? personal ones nt

[Mike Daniels]

14. Don't waste your time

Her whole tape through every thread is "witnesses were bought off, the white boys are guilty"

And both Sharpton and Jackson should be hauling their asses down to Durham to apologize but it isn't going to happen. Sharpton and Jackson have long proven that for them it's not about justice but rather how much camera time can they get.

[bbinacan]

4. And Al Sharpton needs

to get his fat ass to Durham and apologize. As a UNC graduate, I hate Duke (especially in basketball) but this needs to be done. And Nifong should be disbarred. I'm still pissed off that it took so long for the NC AG, Roy Cooper, to finally get involved.

[Erika]

7. You're saying Sharpton has a fat ass?

Says it all, doesn't it.

[bbinacan]

8. Huh?

[bbinacan]

11. You're saying Sharpton has a fat ass?

I'm waiting for your reply.

Sharpton owes an apology. Do you disagree?

[MadBadger]

12. Do you have a problem

with rich white people?

[IanBean]

15. lol

nice try but ur caught

[Igel]

5. Personally, I took his apology a bit differently.

Since it's so weaselly, why not?

"To the extent that I made judgments that ultimately proved to be incorrect" I take to be as comprehensive as possible. He just apologized for bothering to go to law school and admitted it was bad judgment on his part.

[MN ChimpH8R]

9. This Nifong klown will be looking at criminal charges

in the near future, and this time he will be on the business end thereof.

A prosecutor who fails to disclose exculpatory evidence to opposing counsel has committed an ethical breach worthy of disbarment. It could also be considered obstruction of justice.

He is going to get his ass sued by the players. Official immunity will not apply because in obstructing justice, he was not carrying out his usual ministerial functions.

It is also important to remember that the NC Atty Gen did not say that the players were "not guilty," he said that they were "innocent" and that no assault ever took place. That is about as ringing an endorsement of the players as is possible.

[rpannier]

10. He's one of the reasons why I am always suspicious of prosecutors

Too many of them are willing to advance their careers over the bodies of others.

[flying_monkeys]

13. All I can think is there is STILL stuff we don't know.

There must have been more for him to wager his career against than just his eagerness to look tough on crime/win an election. Maybe we should wait and hear what the various stories (that ended up false) were that the *victim* told - - because they must have been darned compelling or something for a semi-seasoned prosecutor to go so strong with so little publically....

(That apology of his sounds like one my teen could manufacture, filled with evasions, so it is definitely less-than-honest, I agree)

I really hate to think that prosecutors sell out for so little...