DOJ-Black Panther Case Update
[Guest post by DRJ]
The Philadelphia Black Panther voter intimidation case — a case the Department of Justice won by default in April, only to dismiss in May — is heating up. Earlier posts on this topic are here, here, here and here, and here is a summary of the initial legal action, including the unexpected dismissal of the case by Obama political appointees:
“Records show that the Justice Department attorneys, led by Christopher Coates, chief of the voting rights section, decided as early as Dec. 22, 2008, to seek charges against the New Black Panther Party and three of its members.
The decision to dismiss the complaint came after a delay in the case was ordered by then-Acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King after an April 2009 meeting with Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli, the department’s No. 3 political appointee, according to interviews with lawyers familiar with the case.
At the time, the career attorneys had recommended that the department seek sanctions against the defendants because the government had already won a default judgment in the case. The attorneys were in the final stages of completing that work when they were told to seek the delay, according to federal records and interviews with the same lawyers familiar with the case.”
The Civil Rights Commission, led by Republican appointees, opened an investigation of the dismissal but the DOJ has thus far refused to respond. The Commission subsequently issued subpoenas to at least two DOJ attorneys — Coates and J. Christian Adams, the lead attorney in the Black Panther case.
The Attorney General’s office reportedly refused to allow the DOJ attorneys to comply with the subpoenas. Adams, who is conservative, hired counsel to contest the refusal, claiming it exposed him to criminal or contempt sanctions for failure to comply with a lawful subpoena. Adams’ attorney asked the DOJ to permit Adams to comply with the subpoena or to issue an order prohibiting his compliance. It appears from the articles that the DOJ had not previously issued an order directing the attorneys not to comply with the subpoena, but it may have done so recently.
Liberal website Talking Points Memo criticized Adams as a Bush loyalist and claims his actions show “the fight to end the Bushies’ politicization of the Department of Justice continues.” I think TPM has it backwards.
— DRJ
TPM can only have it backwards if you accept that black panthers can be prosecuted for criminal violations of election laws. If you accept them as a protected class who are merely working out their angst about slavery, you have to accept that they are immune from the justice that the white population expects.
Haven’t you figured out the new rules yet ?
Mike K (2cf494) — 12/20/2009 @ 5:12 pmWhat’s more, we can’t be hassling the cadre for the new Civilian Defense Force, now can we?
AD - RtR/OS! (1217bb) — 12/20/2009 @ 5:17 pmBassackwards. Like Mike said. We live under Obamao’s rules now. Where trying KSM in NYC is seen as a “good” idea! ROTFLMAO! We are so screwed it isn’t funny anymore. God Help us!
Get ready for the fit to hit the shan. It’s a comin like a hurricaine! The new Brownshirts – the Greenshirts – just got a little excercise in Copenhagen. I can’t wait to see Obamao’s National Security Forces.
J. Raymond Wright (e8d0ca) — 12/20/2009 @ 5:18 pmGo after enemies in shady and possibly illegal ways, each time getting closer to breaking the law (or making the violations more flagrant each time)? Check.
chaos (7c068a) — 12/20/2009 @ 7:28 pmReward friends by getting them off the hook for their shady ways of going after enemies? Check.
Bunker mentality and an arrogance that causes unforced errors and invites shady behavior? Check.
Barack Obama isn’t the second coming of Abraham Lincoln, he’s the second coming of Richard Nixon. Except Nixon was a tragic figure and in a sympathetic way. Obama is just an elitist Commie molded by elitist Commies his whole life.
DRJ – Keep your eye on Inspector Generalgate as well.
daleyrocks (718861) — 12/20/2009 @ 9:47 pmdaley,
Good thought and I’m trying.
DRJ (84a0c3) — 12/20/2009 @ 10:09 pmPar for the course with the new “crew”.
Icy Texan (84cbb5) — 12/21/2009 @ 3:05 amJustice obstructed is justice served.
I am so angry I am seriously comtemplating showing up at my polling place during the next election in paramilitary gear and a nightstick. I’ll stand just outside and glare menacingly at anyone who catches my attention. I’m white..what do you think will happen to me?
gahrie (2b00bd) — 12/21/2009 @ 7:46 amWho said: The very first essential for success (of a totalitarian state) is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence.
He also said; The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belong to one category.
Hint: he had a dog named Blondi.
ropelight (f88ed2) — 12/21/2009 @ 8:30 amgahrie,
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe you should come to Philly and we’ll see where they are next time and offer to take part in a “post-racism” “illegal voter only” intimidation front…after someone on Patterico volunteers to collect and maintain our defense fund.
MD in Philly (d4668b) — 12/21/2009 @ 8:31 amAbout that Inspector Generalgate, daley @ #5, the Washington Times has a strong op-ed laying out the two new developments for why it is imperative a full investigation be done. One of the reasons includes the possibility of Mrs. Obama’s involvement and hence, the subsequent actions taken by the administration to prevent said investigation.
[Rep.] Issa is right to smell a rat, especially since White House aides reportedly cut short congressional staff questioning of Mr. Solomont when the line of questioning began to lead to Mrs. Obama.
That defensiveness and all the subterfuge are all the more reason, logical if not legal, for the judge in Mr. Walpin’s lawsuit not to dismiss the case. Mr. Walpin merits the opportunity in open court to explain why his “leave” without notice amounted to improper interference with his necessary work as a watchdog against malfeasance.
Dana (f64b7d) — 12/21/2009 @ 8:43 amI do electioneering on occasion. In a buttondown shirt, tie and fedora. That’s scarier to some people. I have even been known to hand out a pamphlet to a candidate for governor who came to cast her vote.
nk (df76d4) — 12/21/2009 @ 8:44 amIt is exactly this sort of thing that makes me frustrated by those who think we are witnessing a normal “pendulum swing” of American politics that will swing back in an election cycle or two….the Obama Nation has no intention of letting that pendulum swing back; that’s why they don’t care one whit what the polls say. They will pass their laws, and they will enforce them as they see fit, without regard to our traditional system of justice. As one of those “New Black Panthers” said so eloquently to the white man filming him, “You about to be ruled by da black man, cracker.” Indeed. The much-anticipated midterm election of 2010 will be nothing but a fizzle with these Obama/ACORN/Alinskyite people in control of the machinery of our electoral system.
driver (29b6de) — 12/21/2009 @ 12:45 pmI have even been known to hand out a pamphlet to a candidate for governor who came to cast her vote.
Comment by nk — 12/21/2009 @ 8:44 am
That is too funny.
As one of those “New Black Panthers” said so eloquently to the white man filming him, “You about to be ruled by da black man, cracker.”
Comment by driver
That is not funny at all, though I never heard that claim before.
MD in Philly (d4668b) — 12/21/2009 @ 12:51 pmThis isn’t Iran. If there’s major shady things going down in 2010, the police and the military aren’t going to help Obama keep people down.
chaos (9c54c6) — 12/21/2009 @ 2:41 pm[…] As the saying goes, we are in the very best of hands. […]
Wrapping our heads around the world at Christmas » The Anchoress | A First Things Blog (f2568a) — 12/23/2009 @ 10:00 pm