Case against nightstick wielding “poll watchers” closed

In a Washington Times exclusive story, we learn that political appointees – not lawyers or investigators – have ordered closed the federal civil complaint against three members of the New Black Panther Party accused of intimidation at a Philadelphia polling place in November.

Many may remember the YouTube video of the obvious intimidation shown here.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU

Do go and read the full Washington Times piece, but here are a few paragraphs.

The incident – which gained national attention when it was captured on videotape and distributed on YouTube – had prompted the government to sue the men, saying they violated the 1965 Voting Rights Act by scaring would-be voters with the weapon, racial slurs and military-style uniforms.

Career lawyers pursued the case for months, including obtaining an affidavit from a prominent 1960s civil rights activist who witnessed the confrontation and described it as “the most blatant form of voter intimidation” that he had seen, even during the voting rights crisis in Mississippi a half-century ago. …

The career Justice lawyers were on the verge of securing sanctions against the men earlier this month when their superiors ordered them to reverse course, according to interviews and documents. The court had already entered a default judgment against the men on April 20.

phili-poll-thugs

Update: I totally missed that Michelle Malkin asked some good questions yesterday (and updates today here) concerning this subject and made some inquires before the Washington Times piece today. Michelle also has a telling signed affidavit from a poll monitor that you must read.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air also on the subject. Hinderaker at Power Line too.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

6 Comments

  1. Wayne SW on May 29, 2009 at 6:15 am

    The boys in the hood are being looked after by one of their own.   Nice show of unity there Mr. Ohcomenowadoreme.



    • rush on June 5, 2009 at 12:52 am

      Wow!



  2. zedgar on May 29, 2009 at 10:41 am

    Well, the Boss said he wants justice to be tempered with empathy.  That's got to be the motivation for this, right?



  3. jaxx999 on May 30, 2009 at 12:10 am

    As a Conservative I voted against Obama in the Presidential Election of ’08.  After he won the election the only good thing I thought would come out of this was that he would be a good role model and example for others to follow his path for success.  Now I see nothing good will come from Obama’s Leadership except true Tyranny for all of us and I do mean ALL of US in America.

    Reverend Wright, Sotomayor, ACORN, and the Black Panthers should tell us all something by now.  “Water does seek its own level.”

    “Tell me who you go with and I will tell you what you are.”

    Jaded Empathy in the rule of law will turn to violence in due time.  I thought America was finally going color blind and it is just the opposite after 100 plus days in Power. 



  4. Dimsdale on May 30, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Apply the test: if it were members of the Ku Klux Klan were at a polling place "protecting" voters, would it be considered actionable under Civil Rights Law?  Or even the action of racists?

    Racism works both ways.  I guess all that "Reverend" Wright black supremacy teaching sank in over twenty years…



    • rush on June 5, 2009 at 12:48 am

      You nailed it again Dims.



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