Greta Blasts Cline's Primary Win

North Carolina!! What did she know? and if nothing, why didn’t she ask?
by Greta Van Susteren

If I were a voter in Durham County, I would have wanted to cross examine Tracey Cline about what she knew about Mike Nifong’s handling of the Duke Lacrosse case. She worked in the office at the time the case was the high profile case in the office…and I can’t believe it was not discussed a great deal. If it was not discussed, I would like to know why she did not quiz Nifong about it. Certainly she heard all the lawyers on TV and in the local press complaining about his handling of it as early as 2 weeks after the dancer was at the house. Important issues - including the withholding of evidence — were constantly discussed on TV. Every Assistant DA in that office while Nifong was handling that case should have had the courage to step forward….before I would vote for her, I would want to know why she did not. Prosecutors have enormous power — and communities must be confidant that those with great courage hold those jobs. Greta Wire Blog

Cline wins Dem primary for Durham DA, job tainted by Nifong
Associated Press - May 7, 2008 12:55 AM ET

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Two years after Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong began his ill-fated pursuit of the Duke lacrosse rape case, voters turned to 1 of his colleagues to take the office beyond the scandal.

Tracey Cline won the Democratic primary for district attorney Tuesday night, beating three challengers in an election that focused as much on a trouble-filled past as the future.
With all but one precinct counted, Cline had 46% of the vote in unofficial results. Former prosecutor Freda Black was second with 34%, while private practice lawyer Keith Bishop was third with 13%. Assistant District Attorney Mitchell Garrell had 7%.

No Republicans are in the race, making it likely Cline will claim the office made infamous by Nifong and his disastrous prosecution of 3 Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape. Fox News

Heard about Town: If Cline does takes the office to fulfill Nifong's term of office, she will have two years before another election. While the three Civil Complaints work their way through the Federal Court it is expected that Cline's actions will be targetted and she will be deposed along with other ADAs who were working in the DA's Office under Nifong. Former DPD Officers, Gottlieb and Himan, are already on record saying Cline was consulted and reading the case file. It has always been assumed by insiders that Cline was more involved in the handling of the case than she admits. She was one of Nifong's top two lieutenants and handled sexual accusations.

"Defense attorneys in the case were told by Mr. Nifong and others in the office that he was conferring with [Cline] on the case and if the case were tried she would try it with him," Joe Cheshire said.

The lone rogue theory has its doubters.