The man who once pursued rape, sexual assault and kidnapping charges against three former Duke lacrosse players who were later declared innocent by North Carolina's attorney general says he will resign.
"My community has suffered enough," a tearful Mike Nifong said Friday during his testimony at his State Bar ethics trial to the surprise of the families and defense attorneys of the cleared lacrosse players, as well as others in the courtroom. "Throughout the years I have served as a prosecutor I have always tried to do the right thing," a tearful Mike Nifong said. "In this case, I was trying to do the right thing. Much of the criticism directed to me in the is case is justified. The allegations that I'm a liar, however, are not justified."
For all your Nifong and Duke trial info, the man is KC Johnson. None better.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Mikie - you don't need any more brain damage.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/16/2007 0:15 Comments ||
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#2
It's not going to hurt his career very much. I give you His Honor, Mayor Nifong of Durham! Trust me: I lived in Durham for two years and I know.
#3
His assertion that "some crime" "must" have been committed joins the shooter on the grassy knoll, the 9/11 twoofers and "free mumia" in the annals of assininity...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/16/2007 0:36 Comments ||
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#5
I would like to see Nifong brought up on charges of denying the Duke players their civil rights. Nifong violated the sacred trust put in him. He can pay for the violation in prison with some of his buddies. I hope the Duke guys sue the sh*t out of him and win---big.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/16/2007 3:07 Comments ||
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#6
If the students' parents weren't rich and able to afford a good defense, he would have gotten away with the whole plan...that was his one flaw.
The faculty who condemned the students in the newspaper appear to have gotten off scot-free, though.
#7
Another half-hearted only-because-I-have-to apology. Pr!ck. I hope you don't end up in another position with any authority or influence because I'm sure you'll abuse whatever it might be. The rest of the planet had it figured out after a couple of weeks. Why couldn't you?
I will now sit quietly waiting for an apology from the black community and the University. And didn't the coach lose his job because of this crap, too?
#8
Not all the parents were/are rich - Seligmann was at Duke on a 90% scholarship. They're not poor but from what I've read the legal costs have hit them hard.
Nifong made a mistake going after Dave Evans, tho. Evans' father is a partner with heavyweight international law firm Reed Smith. His mother Rae founded a lobbying firm Evans Capitol Group . My guess is that they may well be bankrolling a lot of the legal effort that affected all 3 of the players.
Lived in Durham for 5 years in the early-mid 90s, as a northerner. Got to see the local & state networks up close ... not pretty. But there were good and honest people like Joe Chesire working to change that. It's a travesty that incompetant scum like Nifong think of themselves as 'reformers' on the side of the 'weak and poor' -- the pro bono work done by the LAX player attorneys has been significant over many years and is the real source of cleaning up the system there.
This guy needs to suffer a whole lot more for what he did.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
06/16/2007 6:34 Comments ||
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#10
I don't see this as a real apology. There's no acknowledgment of playing to specific elements of the community that he believed would keep him in power at the expense of the liberty and freedom of these innocent men and that he knew that such a play would tap the most vial and deep bigotry in those elements. Till then, it's just another show, another con.
#13
Nifong's 'apology' is terrible, and I'm betting most of the community sees through it.
The 'Group of 88' also needs to apologize, as do the 'pot-bangers' and the students who went around with 'castrate them' signs. None of them will.
Thanks for the info about Evans' parents, OO. Goes to show that one's only defense against an unscrupulous DA is a good lawyer, and those cost serious money.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2007 11:18 Comments ||
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#14
What he did sounds a lot like witholding evidence and witness tampering -- shouldn't this weasle be facing some charges?
Posted by: regular joe ||
06/16/2007 13:46 Comments ||
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#15
looks like: job? gone. Retirement? gone. Disbarment. Yup. Nice payback for a sleazy demagogue. Now it's civil action time against Durham and Nifong.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 17:16 Comments ||
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#16
BTW SW's right. KC has done awesome work in chronicling the sham, the sham supporters in the community, the admin and faculty failures (particularly ethnic studies, go figure!) to give the benefit of the doubt to these evil rich white boyz. There are so many awful, opportunistic parasitic whores that Durham and Duke need to cleanse themselves, and if it takes a massive civil suit, so much the better. Get these cockroaches out into the sunlight
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 17:19 Comments ||
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#17
His assertion that "some crime" "must" have been committed joins the shooter on the grassy knoll, the 9/11 twoofers and "free mumia" in the annals of assininity...
#18
from KC's site:
Verdict
Committee is unanimous on all issues on all the contested issues in the case.
1) Extrajudicial statements: Yes.
2) Did Nifong know that these statements would be disseminated? Yes.
3) Did Nifong know that these statements would materially prejudice proceeding? Yes.
4) Did Nifong statements have substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of accused? Yes. Note of explanation: The "accused" in this instance includes the set of suspects (the lacrosse players). Not necessary to make finding as a legal matter that they were actually indicted.
5) By making misleading statements to media, did Nifong engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation? No. The one statement at issue on this point (possible use of condoms) no worse than certain others that were not alleged to involve dishonesty--such as the statement to the effect that the accused were not cooperating. Therefore, not appropriate to pick out this statement as the worst of the group.
6) Failure to provide DNA evidence report failed to provide necessary exculpatory evidence? Yes; Failed to make reasonably diligent effort to deal with discovery effort? Yes.
7) Failure to provide memorializations of Meehan statements: (a) fail to make timely disclosure of exculpatory evidence? Yes. (If anything, Bar's charge was too narrow.) (b) failed to make reasonably diligent effort to comply with discovery request? No. [AG had taken position that prosecutors did not need to provide such memorializations, though this is no longer the law.]
8) Failure to provide complete report of all Meehan tests (a) failed to make timely disclosure to defense all material required by law and court opinions? Yes. (b) failed to disclose evidence or information that he should have known was subject to disclosure under applicable law. Yes.
9) Failure to provide memorializations of Meehan oral reports (a) failed to make timely disclosure to defense of exculpatory evidence? Yes. (b) failed to disclose evidence or information that he knew was subject to disclosure under applicable law? Yes.
10) Instruction of Meehan to have report only positive matches? YES. (b) request a person other than a client to refrain from voluntarily giving information to another party? No.
11) False statements of material fact to court? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
12) False statements of material fact to opposing counsel? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
13) Failure to disclose everything re DSI report to court--false statements to court? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
14) False claim that all Meehan oral statements included in his report? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
15) Falsely implying to court that he was not aware of DNA results at start of 12-15 hearing? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
16) False statements to State Bar that privacy concerns played a role in Meehan report? No. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? No.
17) False statements to State Bar that Meehan report did not include exculpatory evidence? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES.
18) False statements to State Bar that his 12-15 statements referred to alleged charges against him by Duke defendants' lawyers? Yes. (b) conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, deceit? YES. [Notes the consensus of the hearing committee on the above issues: worry that such charges are extremely rare and fear tha such charges might have chilling effect in normal cases.]
19) Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice? Yes.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 17:47 Comments ||
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#19
In California, if he had done what he did, he would be subject to the same penalty as the crime he faked. One of the few aspects of California law I admire.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds ||
06/16/2007 17:49 Comments ||
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Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong has been found guilty by the North Carolina State Bar for a battery of ethics violations in the Duke Lacrosse case. The penalty phase of trial began Saturday afternoon. Nifong's punishment could range from a written reprimand to disbarment. He already announced Friday his intention to resign as district attorney.
The bar's three-member disciplinary panel unanimously found Nifong guilty of fraud, dishonesty, deceit or misrepresentation; of making false statements of material fact before a judge; of making false statements of material fact before bar investigators, and of lying about withholding exculpatory DNA evidence.
Nifong had been charged with seven counts of violating the rules of professional conduct that govern attorney conduct in North Carolina.
During closing arguments attorney Doug Brocker of the North Carolina State Bar said Nifong engaged in a "systematic abuse of prosecutorial power and discretion in the Duke Lacrosse case." "Mr. Nifong did not act as a minister of justice, but as a minister of injustice," Brocker added. Brocker argued that the central motive for Nifong's decision to prosecute the case was winning a tightly contested election for district attorney. Just after the first indictments in the case, Nifong won a May 2 Democratic primary by a margin of 3 percent.
Once Nifong's bar trial concludes, he could still face civil lawsuits from the families of indicted Duke Lacrosse players. Joe Cheshire, an attorney for the Evans family, said that he expects "excessive civil action" against Nifong.
#21
Nifong Accepts Disbarment
David Freedman, Mike Nifong's attorney, has just announced that Nifong has accepted that disbarment is an "appropriate" penalty, and has accepted both disbarment and waived the right to appeal.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 17:57 Comments ||
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#22
Nifong pissed off the Bar panel big time when he insisted yesterday that "something happened in that bathroom", despite the Attorney General's finding that there was no evidence any crime happened at the LAX party against the 'dancer'.
Then he pissed them off again today when he tried to pre-empt the Bar's closing statement and the panel's findings. I'm pretty sure he was desperate to keep those findings from being officially placed on the record, because they form the basis for both civil and criminal suits going forward.
He was found guilty of intentionally lying to both the Court and the Bar about material matters of fact.
Williamson talked about the role of the prosecutor and stated that actions of the sort Nifong engaged in deny defendents their constitutional rights.
Immediately after the hearing was closed, Clooney said on behalf of all 3 players that they would be filing to have Nifong considered in contempt of court. One of the extraordinary aspects of this hearing is that the Bar choose to take action while a case was in progress rather than after the players went to trial. That meant that the judge suspended but did not close the case.
Now Nifong has been officially deemed to have lied to that judge -- in a case in progress. I'm betting the defense counsel will ask for CRIMINAL rather than just civil contempt finding.
There is more than enough in the panel's wording to support criminal charges of perjury and prosecutorial obstruction of justice.
The LAX attorneys have also promised that a blizzard of civil lawsuits are to come.
Outside of the courtroom, the attorneys listed several lucky breaks, absent which they could not have broke this open and nailed Nifong or prevented the players' lives from being ruined even more. Cheshire in particular said that in the last year or three, as many as 8 people convicted of capital offenses in NC have been released due to uncovered prosecutorial misconduct. He's one of the really good guys on the legal team, a highly-respected defense attorney who devotes countless hours of pro bono work to those who really deserve it.
Nifong the Scum deserves to rot in hell for the damage he did not only to those boys, the LAX team and coach and others ... he deserves a special place in hell for making it all to easy to dismiss the credibility of the next, true rape victim who seeks real justice.
Every true feminist should want to see him get all he deserves, to the last ounce.
First, the LAX lawyers suggested that there is a lot more to investigate in this case. "Some other agency" should take a close look at the actions of Linwood Wilson (the 'investigator' Nifong used to produce conveniently re-worked evidence after the DNA was uncovered). Wilson "is not an official law enforcement officer (i.e. officer of the court" but "he carries a badge". He met with the accuser privately, took no notes during the meeting but typed up a report afterwards that just happened to readjust her statement to change times so that Reade Seligmann's well established alibi no longer covered the time of the rape.
Put that together with Williamson's comment about constitutional rights and it's a clear invitation for the Feds to move in.
And, in the "compare and contrast" category:
Early in the case Nifong boasted on TV that the defense attorneys were trying to avoid indictment because they were afraid to go up against him in a courtroom.
Today we had David Evans, the father, on the stand as a character witness in the penalty phase. Not only did we hear of the incredible impact of this ordeal on the family - he himself, a high powered lawyer, wealthy (he didn't say that but it's true) and presumably cool under fire -- he himself developed stress diabetes over the last year and lost a huge amount of weight.
But the real firepower came in his last few sentences, when he summed up far better than the Bar attorneys the damning facts:
Nifong chose, without any corroborating evidence, the changing account of a mentally ill prostitute with an official history of false charges over the word of his son and consistently refused to meet with the attorneys to see evidence that would bolster his son's statements.
The controlled fury was there in the voice and the eyes. I have no doubt that in any courtroom, Evans would dispose of Nifong in 15 minutes and leave nothing but bloody shreds on the floor when he was done. (Legally, not physically).
THAT, my friends, is what a high-powered attorney looks like. I only got a little glimpse of Nifong's face as Evans walked back to his seat, but you could tell that maybe for the first time in his life he began to realize just how outclassed he is.
#24
IIUC - the case has been dropped against the LAX players by the AG, when he said they were "innocent" of the charges. That said - I hope Nifong, Cy Gurney, Victoria Peterson, the Group of 88, the Duke spineless Admin, and the Potbangers are held liable for their persecution. I'm not holding my breath on the last 4. Gurney's gotta live with this loser
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 19:54 Comments ||
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#25
Yeah, I'm confused about the legalities re: the case and the courts.
However, Clooney announced they WILL go back to Judge Smith seeking a criminal contempt of court ruling. Don't know how that works legally, but the ex-prosecutor who was doing commentary on WRAL said something about aspects? of the case being in suspension rather than closed. ???
#26
dunno either...and I don't even play a lawyer on TV
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2007 20:10 Comments ||
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#27
It's my understanding (from the news shows) tha Nifong and the county are still open to civil suit. If the three really want to get vindictive (and I hope they do) they would roll up that group of idiots called "professors" for forming a modern day "lynch mob" that drove the case forward. I really feel for these three and I can't think of a monetary number or apology that fixes what is no and forever be broken in their young lives.
#28
Sarge, one of the guys told Mrs. Finnerty that he will be known to the day he dies as "one of the Duke lacrosse players accused of rape".
No - there is absolutely no way that can be made up for. Colin was a sophomore when he was indicted .... 19, a quiet shy Catholic kid who loved sports and was gifted at them. As his mom said on the stand, she had to explain to her 10 yr old daughter what rape is and that her brother was accused of doing it.
#4
I laughed so hard at these my wife asked me if I found it hard to read the screen through the coffee. I told her, "No. it's snot!"
Posted by: Almost Anonymous5839 ||
06/16/2007 12:55 Comments ||
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#5
"Not Punny"
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/16/2007 13:05 Comments ||
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#6
Now that the same Country & Western singer is out of rehab for being hooked on painkillers, they're going to make a movie about it. It's called, "Dolly of the Valiums".
They're going to make a television show about an Alaskan sled dog and a potato. It's called "Husky and Starch".
The same program directors are also considering a combination of "Roots" and "Shogun". The working title is "Sho'nuff".
Did you hear about the kid who brought a vacuum cleaner to the dairy farm? It was udder madness.
Anyone heard of the new "Los Angeles Rules" for five card stud? Four clubs beat a King.
#9
Didja hear about the cow who drank a bottle of ink?
Mood indigo.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/16/2007 21:20 Comments ||
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#10
A professor engaged in studying the longevity of carp fish was leaning over the open aquarium tank when his wallet accidentally dropped into the water. Much to his astonishment, the fish began bouncing it back and forth between them.
#11
Milt Famie, a beer addict, was pitching for the home team. The score was tied, they already had gotten two batters out and it was bottom of the ninth. The bases were loaded with the opposition's cleanup batter up at the plate. Unable to bear the tension, Milt ran to the dugout and quaffed down a brew. Returning to the mound, he promptly threw a low and outside pitch for ball one.
Unnerved, he returned to the dugout and chugged another beer. Back on the mound, his next pitch was high and inside. The umpire called ball two.
Scampering over to the dug out, he slammed yet another brew and returned only to lob in a low slider for ball three.
Unable to stop trembling Milt Famie dashed to the dugout, gulped down another bottle and dropping it near the baseline as he took the mound a final time.
His last pitch was no good, a fourth ball. This walked in the runner on third, pushed up the score and the game was lost for good.
A relief pitcher struck out the next player and as the batter retired from home plate he wandered over to the first base line, picked up the errant beer bottle and said:
#14
I think #11 Zen wins this one. That was painful. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/16/2007 22:35 Comments ||
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#15
After scrimping and saving for their entire lives, an elderly Navajo couple managed to send their son to university so he could study electrical engineering. After he graduated, he returned home to the Indian community so he could thank his mother and father for all of the sacrifices they had made on his behalf.
Surveying his parents' humble abode, he decided it was high time to do away with kerosene lamps and finally have electric lighting in the bathroom. He even went one better and installed a wall socket near the sink for good measure.
He eventually became famous as the first man ever to wire a head for a reservation.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The man who once pursued rape, sexual assault and kidnapping charges against three former Duke lacrosse players who were later declared innocent by North Carolina's attorney general says he will resign. 
