Justice Department condemns Ferguson leaks as effort to sway opinion

Los Angeles Times ^ | 10/23/2014 | By MATT PEARCE

[SeekAndFind]

With a grand jury decision looming on whether a white police officer should face charges in the killing of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Mo., the investigation has sprung a few leaks.

New details from the inquiry into Michael Brown’s Aug. 9 death — all provided by unidentified sources and which seem to support Officer Darren Wilson’s story of what happened that day — have emerged in St. Louis and national news outlets in recent days.

The U.S. Department of Justice condemned the leaks Wednesday as “irresponsible and highly troubling” and said, “There seems to be an inappropriate effort to influence public opinion about this case.”

The details and news reports say that Brown struggled with Wilson in his patrol car and that Wilson’s gun went off in the car before a brief foot chase ensued.

Wilson ultimately shot Brown several times, and Brown’s body lay in the street for more than four hours, kindling a rage on the streets of Ferguson and St. Louis that has yet to wholly subside.

The leaks seemed to create a fresh rupture in trust with black St. Louis-area officials and protesters, who said Wednesday that they were upset with what they saw as another breakdown in the justice system because information from the supposedly secret grand jury continued to appear in the media. The grand jury’s decision is expected in November.

“There is no way there should be reports from all these anonymous sources and these ‘leaks’ ....This is supposed to play out in the courts and the justice system, and not the media,” said Patricia Bynes, a committeewoman for Ferguson township, which includes the city of Ferguson, and a prominent voice in the protest movement. Quoting a popular chant, she added, “The whole damn system is guilty as hell.”

[freeangel]

What is “highly troubling” is that the DOJ thugs even got involved in a case of a police officer defending himself and the public from a two-bit criminal.

[GOPJ]

Does the Justice Department condemn attacking a police officer?

Not this 'justice' department... they seem to favor the criminals.

[GOPJ]

That’s possible - especially before an election...

[Robert357]

Oh, Br’er Fox, don't throw me in the brier patch! So DOJ is really saying its not them that is leaking all this information? DOJ should be grateful for the leaked information or else Eric (I promised them vengence) Holder is going to be the fall guy for Obama on false expectations of the looters and race-baiters. Seriously, since Holder has already offered his resignation and is trying to avoid further condemnation on his role in Fast & Furious, I would think that DOJ would be thrilled with these leaks.

[Larry381]

According to Bill O’Reilly it’s pretty clear that some of the leaks are coming from the Justice dept....probably someone in the FBI.