Duke Dudes In Cuffs
Two of the Duke LaCrosse players accused in the alleged rape of a for hire stripper at an off campus party were arrested today. Both made their $400,000 bail (generally that means $40k to the bondsman), and are out awaiting their next hearing.
Jesse Jackson, who has already declared the entire team guilty, won't be happy but my guess is that they will walk. They won't walk because both of the hired strippers were black and they are white, they'll walk because of reasonable doubt, if they ever get to court.
A couple of the cops showed up on campus to talk to the accused, who were respesented but didn't have lawyers present. The DNA testing done was negative for any team member, and everyone at the party claims the stripper was already drunk when she showed up. And, supposedly the team has photos that show a timeline that blows up her story.
So why is this going forward, when it seems just from what's in the media that the case will end up a non-starter? One theory is that the DA, Mike Nifong, who is up for re-election, is looking for a high profile conviction to show he's tough. The fact that it's against some of the elite from Duke doesn't hurt the street cred of the DA, either.
The other reason it's going forward is Jesse Jackson and other prominent folks in the African American community have come forward to speak on behalf of the alleged victim. Even if the DA's case is as weak as the French economy the case would move, to keep the allegations of protecting rich white kids from coming up.
Do I think they are guilty? I don't have a clue, but if what's been leaked by the lawyers is true, I think that a conviction is going to be tough to get.
Technorati Tags: Duke,LaCrosse, rape,strippers
Jesse Jackson, who has already declared the entire team guilty, won't be happy but my guess is that they will walk. They won't walk because both of the hired strippers were black and they are white, they'll walk because of reasonable doubt, if they ever get to court.
A couple of the cops showed up on campus to talk to the accused, who were respesented but didn't have lawyers present. The DNA testing done was negative for any team member, and everyone at the party claims the stripper was already drunk when she showed up. And, supposedly the team has photos that show a timeline that blows up her story.
So why is this going forward, when it seems just from what's in the media that the case will end up a non-starter? One theory is that the DA, Mike Nifong, who is up for re-election, is looking for a high profile conviction to show he's tough. The fact that it's against some of the elite from Duke doesn't hurt the street cred of the DA, either.
The other reason it's going forward is Jesse Jackson and other prominent folks in the African American community have come forward to speak on behalf of the alleged victim. Even if the DA's case is as weak as the French economy the case would move, to keep the allegations of protecting rich white kids from coming up.
Do I think they are guilty? I don't have a clue, but if what's been leaked by the lawyers is true, I think that a conviction is going to be tough to get.
Technorati Tags: Duke,LaCrosse, rape,strippers
posted by Crazy Politico at 8:42 PM
3Comments:
As far as his base goes, it's a win-win situation for Jesse. If there is a conviction he has a feather in his cap and if there is no conviction he can complain about how there is no justice for blacks and he will have more "proof" for his rantings.
The DA is either must have something we don't know or he is really dumb. If all the players had DNA tests and all were found negative, the defense has pretty much won.
If she scratched and broke nails on her attackers and they have no marks. Win#2
Maybe the DA just needs a little more lime light before he drops the case.
Shoprat, it is all about the ratings for Jesse. The down side of moving back to Illinois is that Jesse gets lots of press there.
Ablur- I think you are right, though I think he'll allow the limelight to last until early December.
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