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This Trial Was A Disgrace
Townhall.com ^ | April 22, 2021 | Kurt Schlichter

Posted on 04/22/2021 4:37:03 AM PDT by Kaslin

I don’t pretend to know if Derek Chauvin is guilty in the objective sense – Judge Mom, a conservative who sent a lot of people to jail as a prosecutor before doing it from the bench, made a convincing argument to me for a murder conviction soon after the incident – but I do know one thing. This trial was a travesty, a kangaroo court, and as a country, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

This is not to argue whether he is innocent or guilty. I don’t know. There were arguments both ways, and compelling evidence for both points of view. There was powerful evidence for his guilt. Say what you want about that videotape, but it’s solid evidence. And there was powerful evidence for his innocence – George Floyd was clearly in mid-overdose and, after all, fentanyl does have the side effect of killing you. That’s solid evidence too. This was no slam-dunk. A fair trial required careful thought and sober deliberations. And it required a process where neutral citizens could act as jurors to sort it out try to find the truth based on the evidence and the law, and only that. It required a process free of fear and intimidation. But let’s not pretend we got that here.

From the beginning, we had politicians, media hacks, cultural poohbahs, and Twitter twerps demanding a pound of flesh. This was not outrage over a perceived crime – it was a mob interested in scoring points. A literal mob. People burned down the town where it happened. And a lot of other towns.

I don’t pretend to know if Derek Chauvin is guilty in the objective sense – Judge Mom, a conservative who sent a lot of people to jail as a prosecutor before doing it from the bench, made a convincing argument to me for a murder conviction soon after the incident – but I do know one thing. This trial was a travesty, a kangaroo court, and as a country, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

This is not to argue whether he is innocent or guilty. I don’t know. There were arguments both ways, and compelling evidence for both points of view. There was powerful evidence for his guilt. Say what you want about that videotape, but it’s solid evidence. And there was powerful evidence for his innocence – George Floyd was clearly in mid-overdose and, after all, fentanyl does have the side effect of killing you. That’s solid evidence too. This was no slam-dunk. A fair trial required careful thought and sober deliberations. And it required a process where neutral citizens could act as jurors to sort it out try to find the truth based on the evidence and the law, and only that. It required a process free of fear and intimidation. But let’s not pretend we got that here.

From the beginning, we had politicians, media hacks, cultural poohbahs, and Twitter twerps demanding a pound of flesh. This was not outrage over a perceived crime – it was a mob interested in scoring points. A literal mob. People burned down the town where it happened. And a lot of other towns.

Oh, and the media also cheerled the prosecution throughout. Of special note is the genius “legal analyst” – Pro Tip: If the legal analyst is not Harmeet Dillon, Ron Coleman, or me, he/she/xe is probably going to be terrible – who inexplicably chose to say, on purpose, this: “Defense begins the closing by defining reasonable doubt, not with why #DerekChauvin is innocent. Think about that. #DerekChauvinTrial #GeorgeFloyd”

Only an idiot would think about that. I am not going to insult your intelligence by explaining why that’s appalling. She apparently once worked at the Department of Justice, which does explain a lot.

Piled together, this was a towering heap of due process violations that made this trial a farce. Not because of the evidence, but because the establishment decided to tamper with the jury. No, no one overtly told the jurors how they had to vote, but did anyone need to? Do you imagine anyone on that jury was unaware of what was in store for them if they determined the evidence defined the narrative and acquitted?

No, you don’t. But don’t look to any appellate court to have the guts to do the right thing and send it back for a fair trial. Sadly, the smart money is on the jurists getting the message too.

The message was crystal clear, just as it was meant to be. And the jury came through – maybe. Maybe the jury really was convinced by the evidence and thought he was guilty. But maybe it didn’t. Maybe it was scared. And that possibility is unacceptable in a civilized and free society.

Yet, our elite will not just accept it. Our elite will celebrate it.

And that’s a disgrace.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chauvin; lawandorder; police; schlichter; trial
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1 posted on 04/22/2021 4:37:03 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Bttt


2 posted on 04/22/2021 4:39:52 AM PDT by Guenevere (When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do)
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To: Kaslin

We have much legal precedent, look at how the OJ Simpson trial turned out. Despite the facts, and the marshalling of the witnesses, the verdict was tainted by the existing prejudices of the time. OJ knows he was awarded a verdict not supported in reality, but that was a vindication for - something. Da Man was CRUSHING him, doncha know.

Social justice. What an oxymoron.


3 posted on 04/22/2021 4:45:00 AM PDT by alloysteel (¡Viva la Revolución! It worked for Castro....)
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To: Kaslin

This trial was a travesty, a kangaroo court, and as a country, we should be ashamed of ourselves........>>>>>>>>

No question about it. The Lynch mob of the left ruined due process.This included statements by Buden, Harris and Waters.The juge refused general sequestration of the jury? He refused a mistrial motion? What a cowardly JERK!

Like Greg Gutfeld said satirically on Fox News: “ I am so glad they found Chauvin guilty, that means my neighborhood won;t be burned down and looted.”

And Greg was roundly reviled and reprimanded by his pearl clutching co-hosts. Greg was right.Judge Janine was WRONG.


4 posted on 04/22/2021 4:45:30 AM PDT by Candor7 ((Obama Fascism:http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html) )
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To: Kaslin

Everyone deserves a fair trial.

When a jury isn’t sequestered, and they know that Congresspeople and the POTUS say someone is guilty, it isn’t going to take you long to feel the current.

Add in that defense attorney and defense witnesses were threatened, and the Rascist mob already murdered people the last go around, and the are regathering and being egged on by a CongressWoman, and you HAVE to think about your families safety.

Is the officer innocent, I don’t know. Did he get a fair trial?
Absolutely Not.


5 posted on 04/22/2021 4:46:54 AM PDT by Pete Dovgan
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To: Kaslin

Chauvin was guilty of making all police officers look like heartless,cruel,racist monsters. He gave ammunition to the police hating crowd and made it harder for all in law enforcement.


6 posted on 04/22/2021 4:47:04 AM PDT by LottieDah ( Biden/Harris are in and America is lost)
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To: LottieDah

For anyone who followed the testimony closely: Did Chauvin violate any police procedures in place at the time of the incident?


7 posted on 04/22/2021 4:48:40 AM PDT by mewzilla (Those aren't masks. They're muzzles. )
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To: Kaslin
Simple solution: Stop policing black neighborhoods. Let them kill themselves off.

We need to stop pretending that black culture is anything but a net detriment to society. Police the predominantly white (and "white hispanic") areas and be done with it.

8 posted on 04/22/2021 4:50:24 AM PDT by nonliberal (Caput gerat lupinum)
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To: LottieDah

Yep. He deserved to lose his job and some charges should have been filed. But not murder. Maybe it gets over turned but I am not sure. NOBODY wants anything to do with this because of the threat of harm to them and family.


9 posted on 04/22/2021 4:50:55 AM PDT by glimmerman70
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To: Kaslin

Everything, all the facts, were the same in this case with exception of Floyd’s race and he were white, then NOTHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO THOSE COPS. The event itself would have been deemed un-newsworthy.


10 posted on 04/22/2021 4:51:12 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: LottieDah

That’s no reason to falsely convict him.


11 posted on 04/22/2021 4:52:09 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: All

Seeing as you can’t kill someone leaning on the back of their neck I’d say the cop was innocent.


12 posted on 04/22/2021 4:52:50 AM PDT by escapefromboston (Free Assange )
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To: nonliberal
Re: B on B crime.

They used to call inner city Baltimore a "self cleaning oven".

13 posted on 04/22/2021 4:53:12 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Kaslin

We will never know the truth.
That is a casualty of Cancel Culture.

Nobody will speak about facts in the Court room
The vast majority of us, if on the Jury, would throw the book at Chauvin before the trial started.

Because there will be one liberal on the Jury.
And that Liberal facist will run to CNN to dox you
And NOBODY, wants to be Cancelled, fired from work, trashed on the six o’clock news, trashed every half hour on the radio, and deliver a bleak hopeless future to their children.

That is the downside risk of speaking the Truth


14 posted on 04/22/2021 4:53:58 AM PDT by Steven Tyler
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He belongs in jail.


15 posted on 04/22/2021 4:54:25 AM PDT by TakebackGOP
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To: Kaslin

It required a process free of fear and intimidation

Yes, a tool perfected by Organized Crime


16 posted on 04/22/2021 4:55:31 AM PDT by Steven Tyler
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To: central_va

Yep, recall Tony Timpa was killed by the Dallas police under similar circumstances just a few years ago. Timpa was White. No charges against the officer, no riots, and quickly swept under the rug.


17 posted on 04/22/2021 4:55:55 AM PDT by Dan in Wichita
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To: nonliberal

Police budgets actually need to be increased instead of decreased or “reimagined”. Then even though it sounds racist they should pair up a black and white cop. Or let black cops serve black areas. In some states it’s impossible for a white cop to catch a break. When they are called there is people standing around videoing the whole thing and the perp resists in hopes of a violent encounter. It’s a payday and the media is begging for this stuff. The media is going to be sorry they are pushing this agenda. These reporters are helping lose rights for themselves.


18 posted on 04/22/2021 4:56:00 AM PDT by glimmerman70
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To: nonliberal

“Urban” uneducated blacks and inner city vermin want high crime and no policing. Why you ask? It lowers property values and rents so they have more money to spend on booze, fast food and drugs.


19 posted on 04/22/2021 4:57:06 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va

Chauvin would have done the same at a Trump rally. He’s just not worth defending. Sorry.


20 posted on 04/22/2021 4:58:39 AM PDT by lodi90
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