Petition for a Federal Investigation of Racketeering and Corruption in Durham, North Carolina
submitted by Randolph Baird
The citizens of Durham, North Carolina, for too long have been forced to bear the burden of a city government which presents the appearance of being manifestly corrupt. Millions of federal grant dollars disappear without any accounting; vice rings appear to operate without interference (there were no arrests for prostitution by the Durham police department in 2004 or 2005); police auctions lose money; what funds that are acquired end up being distributed privately into the hands of a few, instead of benefiting the pubic. Reporters who get too close to these matters end up being jailed (Demorris Lee). In the past, police have been handed blank warrants to fill out whenever needed. Suspicion of payoffs taint criminal prosecutions (Leon Brown).
The result of all this is that gangs flourish, violence is unchecked, pastors use discretionary funds to smuggle their endangered young people out of the city, and basic city services deteriorate.
The majority of the people of Durham want a principled, professional criminal justice system in which criminal allegations are investigated promptly and fairly; the innocent are not prosecuted; and personal and political considerations do not pervert or corrupt the administration of justice in any way.
Yet criminal racketeering combinations, involving perhaps even many individuals associated with both law enforcement and the courts, have evidently been too powerful for local officials to be able to overcome. In such a situation federal intervention, through investigations by the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section, and the FBI, is the only practical solution.
We therefore call upon the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice to commence an immediate investigation of the courts, judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and the civic government of Durham; to ascertain the extent of the corruption of public elected and appointed officials; the influence exerted upon these officials by local criminal vice syndicates; and the means by which honest administration may be restored to the city. [Source]
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2 comments:
Believer Of Faith
I will be calling Mr. Hardin first thing this morning! My family has waited far too long for answers and JUSTICE for my murdered brother!
We have been given the run-around like a dog chasing it's own tail, treated like dirt, and DEMAND their be ACCOUNTABILITY, and a TRUE investigation! Only because we are in another state, they think they can say and do whatever they want and are not responsible?!
I hope other families of murdered loved ones who died under Nifong's reign of corruption will also rise up and be heard! The legal system came to a halt, cases are backed up to an incredible number, and have been tossed to the side while the parade passed on and on and on!
There are PLENTY more equally inept officials STILL in office who also need to be exposed and removed! To think Nifong is the only one is foolish. To think there will be any CHANGE is also a farce. Unless there is a COMPLETE cleaning of house, the only honest change will be just a name on a door!
We live in a world where we read daily of our elected officials and memebers of law enforcement being found guilty from everything to murder, to numerous crimes too many to mention!
These are people we have elected, and who are supposed to protect us?! What example does that leave for the citizens?! It has made me bitter against the system that I believed to be in place of OUR rights and safety!
So, if Mr. Harding does nothing, this will just prove to be another example of denial, and more dirt swept under the rug. It saddens me to see him say that Nifong is over, and to not take responsibility for his actions! How can you ever recover unless you admit there is something wrong?!
The last thing Durham needs is for things to go on as they were! The politicians and officials should be shouting for reform instead of hoping the passage of time will dull our memories......
I would certainly consider this truly be, "The Worst Of Times!"
The days and weeks ahead will be the test to see just which direction the city chooses to take. Let us pray they go forward!
Respectfully,
Rhonda Fleming
No changes so far, same shit
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