Thursday, April 05, 2007

Supporters Abandon The Hoax

Citing a “growing weariness about the integrity of the case,” the administrator of Our Hearts World, a website which had enthusiastically supported Crystal Mangum and Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong for the past nine months of their Hoax, announced yesterday that it's support had wavered and the site had been taken down. The timely decision, made in concurrence with the North Carolina NAACP, the Triangle Urban League, and the three black newspapers that had sponsored the website, signals clearly that support for the dying Hoax no longer exists among even its most ardent supporters. Other factors cited by the administrator in pulling its supportive message include: the accuser’s inability to substantiate her accusations, her refusal to cooperate with the new prosecutors who replaced Defendant Nifong, and the mountain of evidence that failed to confirm her claims.
“OurHeartsWorld.com, the website sponsored by a coalition of community groups across North Carolina, is no more…

“Evidence turned over to the defense attorneys representing three players who were ultimately indicted for three first-degree felonies reportedly failed to confirm her allegations…

“The NCNAACP, the Triangle Urban League and three Black newspapers in North Carolina cosponsored the website…

“In December 2006 it was revealed that the accuser could not substantiate her rape accusations…

“Of course, the allegations against Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong per his handling of the investigation and exculpatory DNA evidence was also a factor in our growing weariness about the integrity of the case.

“And just recently, word that the accuser is not cooperating with the special prosecutors of the State Attorney General’s Office has also concerned us.

“If the essence of our support for her was ensuring her right to tell her story, but she isn’t doing it, then the reasons for continuing that support are fewer and fewer.

“We have consulted with the co-sponsors of the website, and they agree with our assessment that the time has come to pull the plug.”
Yesterday’s announcement echoes recent statements of other local and national black leaders. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), a leading candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, and Durham County Democratic Party Chairman, Floyd McKissick Jr., a candidate in the March 9, 2007 special election to fill the vacant District 20 North Carolina State Senate seat, have both recently taken stands against the Hoax.

Obama:
"Congressman Walter Jones has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to initiate a federal inquiry into Mr. Nifong's prosecution of three Duke University student athletes accused of an alleged sexual attack on a woman at a party earlier this year. Specifically, Rep. Jones asked the Attorney General to review new evidence that Mr. Nifong withehld exculpatory DNA results from the defendants in order to determine if his conduct has illegally denied the students their civil rights as U.S. citizens under federal law. This independent inquiry is needed, and I will be following its progress closely." Obama Supports Call For Inquiry
McKissick:
"The African-American community of Durham wants fairness, and the view is that if Mr. Nifong was not fair in this case, what's he going to be like in other cases?" DCDP Chairman Turns on Nifong
Obama’s statement was followed by an endorsement from Jesse Jackson; McKissick’s was followed by the announcement that his candidacy was endorsed by the influential Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

While many have speculated that Attorney General Roy Cooper has delayed ending the Hoax in fear of political backlash from the black community, it appears that making a statement against the thoroughly debunked Hoax holds no danger to an ambitious politician. In light of these recent developments, the hesitant Cooper should now be free to do the right thing.

Additional information:

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Obama letter- I would really temper your enthusiasm for Obama's comments considering they were in constituent text and not actually said by the Senator himself. It's apparent to me that a 22 or 23 year old Legislative Correspondent (LC) wrote that letter and while it would have been reviewed by several people in Obama's office, I would bet my car that he never saw those words until they were published. (and if they had created a firestorm of controversy he would have blamed in on a staffer and miscommunication.)

Anonymous said...

7:47:

Assuming that Obama did not see the letter before it was sent, one could call it an "accidental trial ballon." Politicians of both parties use trial balloons all the time. The important thing is that this one did not get shot down, and Obama, by his not disavowing it, has now adopted it.

Durham Lawyer

Anonymous said...

Absolutely true. My only point is that his involvement is accidental and not proactive.

Anonymous said...

I think the A.G. has spread the word to his political allies that this case is a loser. They are being given a chance to save face before the case is formally dropped.

Anonymous said...

I can understand why there might be no new work put into the site, no new articles or comments added, but it is not clear to me why its sponsors closed it down.

Anonymous said...

Finally, some hints of reason from the accuser's advocates.

Observer

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

"Our Hearts World" didn't shut down because it can no longer support Crystal - but because Crystal will no longer support it. OHW's hatred and racism were supported by Crystal's lies. But when she realized purjury could put her in jail, she stopped supporting her lies. Which is why OHW stopped supporting her.

But, in truth, OHW never really did.

Anonymous said...

So, in the end, we have the Hurled-Scum and Wendy Murphy supporting Crystal. Not a good support group....

Anonymous said...

From OHW:

"Apr. 4, 2007 - WORLD EXCLUSIVE NEWS IS COMING!
FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR:

On April 5, an important announcement will be made here at OurHeartsWorld.com that you won't want to miss!"


Does anyone know what the above was about? I've looked a few times today, but the only news I've seen was the April 4 announcement that the site was closing.

Durham Lawyer

Anonymous said...

Why does the administrator continue to post comments that the SPs are on vacation. We know that is a hoax, yet it is repeated again on the forum board in a post by the administrator at 8:51 tonight referencing a Gaynor column. Gaynor has no credibility if he continues to perpetrate that lie. Which makes the rest of his comments subject to doubt. His comments are not worthy to reference at Liestoppers. Heck, even Anderson admitted he was wrong on this point.

Anonymous said...

10:12: I'm guessing you are speaking of an article posted in the news thread. By that standard, all articles from the NYT, Herald Sun, and many other publications would be excluded. My understanding is that all relevant articles and blog posts are placed there regardless of accuracy and opinion. Of all the falsehoods that have made the Hoax what it is, misinformation over a person's vacation hardly seems worthy of notice. Did you object when articles containing the lies of Duff Wilson, John Stevenson and Bob Ashley were posted there for review? By the way, how long have you worked in the AG's office?

Anonymous said...

Heck, even Anderson admitted he was wrong on this point.

I feel so much better....