LIVE THREAD: 2:30 Press Conference Regarding Nifong's Request to be Excused from Duke Case

FNC | January 13, 2007

[Peach]

Press conference scheduled for 2:30 regarding Nifong's request to be excused from Duke case.

FNC will carry live.

[Raebie]

"Why do I get the feeling we've descended
further into another ring of Dante's purgatory?"

I know the feeling...

[Carolinamom]

Did I hear the AG say that among the evidence they needed to peruse was some in the DA's files? If so, does that mean that Nifong has even more stuff that he has not turned over?

[Ohioan from Florida]

The alleged assault took place on Hillsborough Rd. Near Kroger?

Isn't that the same Hillsborough/Kroger that Pittman/Roberts brought Crystal Mangum to? Nice to know what a great neighbor"hood" it is.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I wouldn't be a bit surprised...

[Carolinamom]

New tag line from President Bush's radio address Jan. 13, 2007.....Gauntlet thrown down to the serial critics!

[Sue Perkick]

kinda.......ironic ain't it? :)

[Sue Perkick]

LOL. A tall gate is no match for a determined cat.

[luv2ski]

I just cannot get over how IGNORANT this guy is about the law; he can't even get a statement right and yet he won reelection? Watching him leave the other night and then looking back at some pictures of him, he's just goofy; I'm thinking he is a complete lightweight way in over his head with no real knowledge of legal procedures. In fact, he just may be a real, honest to goodness simpleton. If I was an attorney who had lost a case to him, I'd be reviewing my files right now.

From the very beginning I have suspected that Nifong watches too much TV. It's like he sees himself as some character on a show who is dramatic and always in front the cameras making statements.

Now how he totally forgot the law and procedures in all this is still a mystery. I do think he was seduced by all the media attention and somehow convinced himself that he is a "victim's advocate".

[maica]

I was away and visiting at a mil base. Got asked by many WHY the President admitted "mistakes were made". I asked these mil what else they heard via MSM? Nothing. The MSM message and really only "audible" message? "Mistakes were made". I did a quick outline of what the President Proposed Wednesday night.
These guys were so po'd at the MSM.

May I suggest that you email Tony Snow with what you wrote here. He was defending the WH Press Office decision to "leak" (he actually used that word) (if he does not know the difference between a leak and an advance copy of a speech, then it is no wonder the Justice Dept can not prosecute any 'leakers.") portions of the speech early. His rationale was that because the speech was delivered at 9pm eastern time, the writers and commentators would not have time to digest all that the President had said, and would publish 'half-cocked' articles.

I say, he is looking at the picture exactly backwards. The anti-Bush media had a whole day to pre-rebut the speech and cement in everyone's mind whichever theme statement they wanted. In this case it was "the apology."

[sissyjane]

Wasn't me, it was Howlin. LOL!

[Sue Perkick]

Sometimes when I reply I wind up getting lost in the thread. I'm gonna have to start writing the post numbers down. LOL.

[luv2ski]

Right but here is what I think it takes to drop the case: 1. Day one: Read Mangums various statements. [That should be sufficient, but they will want to do more leg work.] 2. Day two: Read the DNA results and the physical evidence gathered in the search, the SANE report, the transcript of the line up, the various cell phone data and pictures and the transcipt of the witnesses including Bissey, Robert [aka Pittman] and the various uncharged lacrosse players. 3. Day three: Read the defense evidence including Seligmann's alibi and the defense motions offered in the case. Meet with the defendants or their attorneys. Listen to the Finnerty alibi if offerred. 4. Day four: Meet with Mangum. Make go through her story again and ask her about inconsistencies. 5. Day five: Call a press conference announce that there is no evidence beyond Mangum's claim that has changed greatly. Explain that the pictures and Seligmann's alibi makes all her IDs suspect. Announce this makes the AG's office unwilling to contest the defense ID motion. Announce that the DNA from other people and the lack of DNA from any Duke lacrosse player or other party goer combined with Pittman [aka Roberts] seeing nothing makes it very unlikely a crime other than underage drinking was committed at the Duke lacrosse team party. Announce that in the interest of justice the charges have been dropped.

Nice summary, JLS! I like it! my only concern with turning it over to the AG is that his office will want to read the reams of paper that have been generated for this case. There are literally 1000s of pages of who-knows-what that are in the file. Will he have the sense to see that without a credible victim and no physical evidence, there is no case?

[CFC__VRWC]

If I was an attorney who had lost a case to him, I'd be reviewing my files right now.

If I were an attorney who had lost a case to him, I'd be thinking that maybe I need a career change, to find something I actually knew how to do.

Seriously, I'm not sure what to make of this. Part of me thinks this is nothing more than the "good ole boys" in the NC legal system covering up for one another. Nifong agrees to get off the case and allow the state AG to quietly drop it - in return, the AG and the NC bar agree to not go after Nifong. With a little help from a complicit media, they all make an "embarrassing incident" go away, rewrite history to blame the whole thing on racism and the "inequality of the criminal justice system", and Nifong rides this to enjoy a lifetime sinecure as Durham's DA.

If I see someone in the state Attorney General's office actually pursue Nifong, I'll feel differently. But I'm not holding my breath.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Placemarker.

[JLS]

Well it is a question of what you want:

1. If you want the case merely dismissed, then they don't needs to read as much.

2. If you hope the case will be dismissed and the AG's office say something to exonerate the defendants, then you want them to read the entire case file.

[Crawdad]

Wonder if Durham has any idea what it looks like to the rest of the country.

I really hate to say this, because I really don't care, but I'm beginning to wonder if (excluding a small percentage of the population) the United States, of which North Carolina is a part, has any idea what it looks like to the rest of the world.

[JoanOfArk]

The first thing they should do is ask Crystal Gail Mangum to take a polygraph exam. They need to stand way far back when they hook her up because sparks will be flying from the machine.

[kalee]

I want a cav. I have two cockers, but I have always wanted a cav.
I don't think my two would be happy to have another dog around though. They are 6 and 3. I've had them both from the time they were pups. The 6 year old was 8 weeks and the 3 year old was 7 months when I got them. I love them! They're just like a couple warm wooly throwrugs at my feet when I'm on the computer.

[Ken H]

Liestoppers take on the new prosecutor:

http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2007/01/hijacker-of-hoax-replaced-by-gell.html

[Krodg]

I really hate to say this, because I really don't care, but I'm beginning to wonder if (excluding a small percentage of the population) the United States, of which North Carolina is a part, has any idea what it looks like to the rest of the world.

Do you really believe that the world's opinion is more important than that of our citizens who could be affected by the outcome of this trial?