Nifong Apologizes, Admits Nothing Happened
The last 16 months have proven to be a difficult and painful journey for my family and myself. This has also been a difficult and painful journey for Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans, for their families, for Durham and the state of North Carolina. We all need to heal. I believe, however, that this healing process cannot truly begin until all proceedings involving this matter are concluded and everyone is able to go forward. I have resigned my position as Durham District Attorney as a part of this process. I have read the report released by the attorney general, including his recitation of evidence that I did not have, obtained from his own investigation. I agree with the attorney general’s statement that there is no credible evidence that Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty and Mr. Evans commited any of the crimes for which they were indicted or any other crimes during the party that occurred on March 13 and 14 of 2006 at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd.Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty and Mr. Evans were entitled to the presumption of innocence when they were under indictment. Surely, they are entitled to more than that now as they go forward with the rest of their lives. And that is what the attorney general tried to give them in his declaration that they are innocent.I have admitted on more than one occasion that I have made mistakes in the prosecution of these cases. For that, I sincerely apologize to Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty, Mr. Evans and to their families. It is my hope that all of us can learn from the mistakes of this case, and that all of us can begin to move forward. It is my hope that we can start this process today. Thank you
17 comments:
Finally! It only took him from March 27 2006 to July 26 2007 to admit there was never any case!
Liestoppers:
"including his recitation of evidence that I did not have"
Prior to the indictments, what evidence did Nifong not have?
Is he admitting the players should never have been indicted?
Ken
Dallas
Unfortunately for all Nifong made no such admission. What he said is these guys didn't commit a crime. Ok but he makes no retraction of all his prior statements that a rape did in fact occur that "something happened" etc.
Where all this goes is Mangum is still being treated by him and all upper Durham including dpd with kid gloves. They simply don't want to contradict her..... why is this?
Nifong is so screwed! He looks horrible!
But he said it it to Gottlieb & Himan on March 27 2006, "We're F**ked!" Too bad he didn't take his won advice.
Carolyn says:
That's not an apology!
That apology is as fake as the indictments of 3 innocent kids for a rape that never happened! The ONLY reason either happened was because both served Nifong's self interest.
To hell with Nifong!
Thanks Liestopper!
If only he had "Read the Files" ...all of this would not have happen!
I have no doubt he read all of it early, or he would not have been able to lie & distort the facts as well as he did.
do not believe this apology; nifong is just following his lawyers'dubious advice and hoping for a more lenient punishment by apologising. he need not have bothered as the defense wants nothing less than total annihiliation and will ask for the maximum penalties regardless of this apology. this is the same thing that happened at the Bar trial; he was told by his lawyer to apologise then and still was disbarred so he should have just stayed consistent and maintained what he really thought and that is "something happened".
He's an evil, amoral man who was willing to ruin the lives of 3 innocent young men to further his own ambition. He needs to go down hard. Given the opportunity he would do it again - more carefully. We've all heard the term "banality of evil". He's it.
Anyone that understands Nifongese sees through this "apology". Nifong is still attempting to ply his self proclaimed mastery of manipulating the legal process. His ego tells him he will escape punishment because he is so much smarter than everyone else.
Nifong did look bad. He looked haggard and worn out.
The headline is incorrect. Nifong did not admit that "nothing happened." If anything, he went out of his way not to!
"I agree with the attorney general’s statement that there is no credible evidence that Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty and Mr. Evans committed any of the crimes for which they were indicted or any other crimes during the party that occurred on March 13 and 14 of 2006 at 610 N. Buchanan Blvd."
Parse it carefully - he's retaining the right to claim that "Something happened, I just got the wrong three guys." and "Those three know something and they're not talking." He can make a good living peddling that line on Wendy Murphy's road show.
If it was good enough for Joe Cheshire, Bannon, and Cooney, it was good enough for me!
Baldo
This was an apology only because he used the word.. In fact, he again tried to manipulate us by stating that he did not have all the evidence.. Whom is he trying to dupe? The three young men's lawyers were very generous in accepting the "apology".. but we all know that he was driven by political ambitions when he made inflamatory statements and courted the black vote all summer of 06.
And what was the role of the DPD? Why did so many kow-tow to Nifong? Hope Chalmers, Gottlieb, Wilson et co. will be thoroughly investigated and punished if found guilty.
Hmmm....so on April 10, 2006 Mr. Nifong meets with Dr. Meehan and is told no DNA from any lacrosse player is found on the accuser. He covers this information up and for 15 1/2 months, throughout the investigation, recusal, bar hearing, disbarrment, and all other events he insists that something happened.
Now, facing jail time and the prospect of paying thousands of dollars in legal fees, Mr. Nifong has finally admitted what the world has known all this time.
What could possibly have made him change his mind? When he apologized in from of the state bar he cried crocodile tears (for himself) and stuck to his theory that something happened. In my opinion he is so jaded that he still believes it. He was just forced to make this statement out of pure self-interest by his attorneys.
Mike Nifong has never thought of anyone but himself throughout this ordeal. If he were concerned for the men he wrongfully indicted he would have said that he agreed with the attorney general that all of these men are totally "INNOCENT."
He is self-serving scum who has ruined his life and nearly the lives of many others. For that he must answer.
"including his recitation of evidence that I did not have"
Which really means evidence Nifong never looked for--Mangum's criminal,work, and medical histories.
Rullie
Who cares about poor demented Crystal? No interest in her work, history - mental or criminal. This whole case was not about rape, but election and votes. Nifong would have carried this on forever - he almost did. As of April, 07 there was still no trial date.
I think he'll do time. Quite possibly the entire 30 day maximum (and the $500 fine). I just can't see the judge feeling justice has been served if he lets Nifong off with only the monetary fine. That's why I think we'll see him in orange.
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