General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKlobuchar Declined to Prosecute Cop Who Killed Floyd
While serving as Minnesotas chief prosecutor between 1999 and 2007, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) declined to bring charges against more than two dozen police officers who had killed citizens while on duty including against the officer that killed George Floyd in Minneapolis this week, MintPress News reports.
https://politicalwire.com/2020/05/28/klobuchar-declined-to-prosecute-cop-who-killed-floyd/
uponit7771
(91,308 posts)UTUSN
(72,156 posts)rkleinberger
(155 posts)Good actually. She would have been an awful pick for VP
NCjack
(10,290 posts)at the convention before naming his V.P. selection.
Salviati
(6,034 posts)... it's still longer before the convention than most other nominees in the past 40 years. He does need us to push back against the people who are saying he should rush into a decision.
UTUSN
(72,156 posts)BComplex
(8,961 posts)Hurts, how unforgiving folks can be.
UTUSN
(72,156 posts)friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)hlthe2b
(105,731 posts)AllTooEasy
(1,261 posts).
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and had to function within -- the laws and practices in place, as well as the practical realities of power distribution. Everything needs to be examined in context, because everything occurs in real-world context. Without fail.
The one most important thing we can do in evaluating candidates is to find out WHO THEY ARE. But I do agree that, given the failure of most to do that, her chances of becoming Biden's VP probably didn't just decline but plummeted.
(Evil woman! Your decades of support of civil rights mean nothing.)
randr
(12,462 posts)rogue emissary
(3,203 posts)I may not be a fan of hers because of this record. I do think she is smart enough to realize the political tides are now against her.
Dawson Leery
(19,358 posts)just hit junk bond status.
She may even get a challenge to her Senate seat when she is up for re-election.
tblue37
(66,035 posts)Stuart G
(38,726 posts)and destroys her political future forever.
lostnfound
(16,514 posts)Celerity
(46,154 posts)U.S. SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR
Today Senator Franken acknowledged that he could no longer serve in the Senate and resigned. As he and I discussed yesterday, this is the right decision. Senator Franken has worked for years on behalf of the people of Minnesota and he has been a leader on issues that are fundamental to Americans lives, including education, privacy, healthcare and mental health. He has been a friend to me and to many in our state.
For Franni, the Franken family, Senator Frankens friends and supporters in our state, its a very tough day. I want you to know I remain as committed as ever to working together and standing up for people, for common decency, and for our democracy during an incredibly difficult and divisive time in our country. And as we go forward together, we must never forget the words of Senator Paul Wellstone, whom Senator Franken quoted in part today, Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of peoples lives.
snip
https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/08/politics/amy-klobuchar-senate-al-franken-minnesota/index.html
"I had condemned his conduct early on when the first allegation was made," she told CNN's Dana Bash on "Inside Politics." "I felt I was in a different role as his colleague, that I'm someone that has worked with him for a long time, there's a lot of trust there, and I felt it was best to handle it in that way."
In a coordinated effort, female Democratic senators called for Franken's resignation in rapid fire Wednesday. Klobuchar did not join in that effort and said in a statement at the time that she spoke with him privately. By Wednesday evening, more than two dozen senators -- including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer -- had called for Franken's resignation.
"I talked to him about the fact that you had reached the situation with the mounting allegations and the fact that there was an ethics investigation going on," Klobuchar told CNN Friday.
snip
When asked about the ramifications of Franken's decision to resign, which Bash said was "under duress" -- and Klobuchar agreed -- the senator said it's "not about just toppling men." "This is about guaranteeing we will have better workplaces where people treat each other fairly," she responded. "And there is a lot of good men in the workplace. You know some of them. I think the key here will be due process."
snip
https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2017/12/why-democrats-pushed-franken-out.html?page=all
snip
A contrast is just what Democrats likely want to focus on, according to The Washington Post. Forcing out Franken, along with Rep. John Conyers, shows the party is willing to sacrifice their own in the interest of staking out the higher ground, per The Post.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar called Franken Wednesday and privately urged him to step down, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. While she plans to uphold Frankens legacy and the work hes done for the state, she thought his speech was short.
I know that he didnt really apologize to the people and that would have been nice, Klobuchar said, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
snip
http://www.startribune.com/sen-amy-klobuchar-says-franken-s-legacy-will-last-but-adds-he-should-have-apologized/462628583/
snip
As for the farewell speech itself, Klobuchar said: I thought the speech was short. ... I know that he didnt really apologize to the people and that would have been nice.
I think the bigger deal for me was that he was able to talk ... with a lot of love for our state, what he liked about his job and what he wanted to be his legacy.
That legacy, she said, would include Frankens work on issues like health care and privacy.
But the legacy will also be shadowed by more than half a dozen sexual harassment allegations against Franken. On Wednesday, Klobuchar said, as a seventh accuser came forward and other Senate Democrats began calling for his resignation, she called Franken to privately urge him to do the right thing and step down.
snip
question everything
(48,611 posts)She is still very popular in the state. Thankfully MN is not as leftist as DU.
OrlandoDem2
(2,234 posts)Just keep vetting and keep the suspense. Its free media.
We cant afford a misstep in June or July when he could make a pick in August.
MyOwnPeace
(17,240 posts)Like the "free media" idea - always gives some "fresh meat" to throw to the hounds!
Cha
(304,047 posts)nolabear
(42,921 posts)Yeah, shes done.
KPN
(16,024 posts)It also makes the case for floating names of people being vetted for VP.
qazplm135
(7,465 posts)She done.
still_one
(95,502 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)...an active candidate), they are now.
A prosecutor has a tough job, there will always be controversial cases, but refusing to proceed on as many as this is not a good trend.
still_one
(95,502 posts)I really like Susan Rice, especially based on her international experience which has been so badly eroded under trump
Mme. Defarge
(8,460 posts)Skya Rhen
(2,722 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Amy from my days as a sales and service Rep and having her Office as a Client.
Her track record on protecting Cops is now front page. Another is Mike Freeman.
Baitball Blogger
(47,651 posts)This is what happens when you try to straddle the middle, and find your dominant foot leans more to one side than the other.
Metatron
(1,260 posts)rufus dog
(8,419 posts)She is the LAST thing we need as a VP, would always be saying we need to reach out to work with Repukes.
We need to do no such thing.
Mr. Ected
(9,684 posts)But I would appreciate hearing Klobuchar's response before ripping her to pieces.
In so many other ways, she was an appealing candidate and a capable Senator. I won't forgive her this trespass, of course, but with Trump in the White House and Republicans acting like Mussolini wannabes, I don't want my anger focused on a Democrat.
Thanks
Tom Rinaldo
(22,993 posts)...but it is very much politically fair, and virtually required, to rule her out for Biden's VP in light of this. Fair or not, she would hurt the ticket for this November's election. May she continue to have an honorable career in politics, and like each and every one of us, may her future judgements be better informed by what we come to understand today. But there are better political choices for VP now than Amy Klobuchar.
Mr. Ected
(9,684 posts)Joe's short list just got shorter.
RandySF
(69,092 posts)I forgot her response.
Mr. Ected
(9,684 posts)But isn't it amazing how this issue came back to haunt her now, in Minneapolis of all places? Karma, baby.
geardaddy
(25,310 posts)MPD has been running roughshod over people of color for decades.
quakerboy
(14,092 posts)madaboutharry
(41,144 posts)I think that she is a highly ambitious, intelligent, and competent person who failed to adequately serve all the members of her community. I think her record during her tenure as County Attorney of Hennepin County disqualifies her as a VP choice in the upcoming election. I don't think she will ever be president.
I also think her election to the U.S. Senate may now be more difficult due to this deserved scrutiny.
not fooled
(6,030 posts)Good analysis.
Mosby
(17,218 posts)kimbutgar
(22,915 posts)still_one
(95,502 posts)addition, Amy Klobuchar should remove herself from the list if she is on it
The Mouth
(3,262 posts)he needs new staff.
B Stieg
(2,410 posts)as she should be...
marble falls
(61,292 posts)We don't know what evidence she had to look at before making her decision. We don't know what circumstances led to that last killing. Let's hold off before judging her.
But he needs a serious looking at.
sarisataka
(20,685 posts)We can condemn her without any knowledge of the previous case because of something that has happened years later.
I expect there will soon be calls for her to resign from the Senate.
And yes his history of use of force should be examined at his trial
marble falls
(61,292 posts)under defined knee-jerk issue.
tinrobot
(11,419 posts)This is a perfect line of attack for them to peel off some voters, cause controversy, etc...
Besides, we have plenty of other good candidates.
RandySF
(69,092 posts)and Klobacher already had a not so great reputation in rhw African American community. Given this, and Biden's gaffe last week, it's probably the end of any VP aspirations.
IronLionZion
(46,827 posts)Why black voters dont want Klobuchar as Bidens running mate
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/27/why-black-voters-dont-want-klobuchar-bidens-running-mate/
geardaddy
(25,310 posts)She is toast.
LovingLife
(46 posts)Aside from supporting Syria's Assad, Mintpress News,
"By 2016, MintPress News had begun reprinting copy from RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik.[7]"
The story may or may not be true, but the source is questionable. And Kamala Harris did the exact same as prosecutor in California - refused to prosecute cops.
Here's the wikipedia link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MintPress_News
intheflow
(28,825 posts)which cited (and linked to) a database of police complaints.
Here's that article: https://news.yahoo.com/amy-klobuchar-declined-prosecute-officer-183728902.html
Celerity
(46,154 posts)Hulk
(6,699 posts)In many other ways, she was my first choice. I'd love to hear HER address these charges. There is so much bull shit in the air. Might be the accusations are justified...might be they are not.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)bringthePaine
(1,806 posts)Yavin4
(35,901 posts)The reason why some bad cops feel like they can do whatever they want is because it's unlikely that they will be prosecuted.
When the careers of ambitious DAs are threatened for lack of prosecution, then they will start thinking twice about giving out "get out of jail free" cards.
Bad cops survive because they work in a system that favors them, but the tide is finally turning.
dflprincess
(28,412 posts)Not "Minnesota's chief prosecutor" (which, I assume would be the state AG). However, a shooting in Minneapolis would have fallen under her jurisdiction.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,576 posts)Though she got billions for CA's housing crisis, her office should have prosecuted Steve Mnuchin when they had the chance.
"... a new book by Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter Aaron Glantz challenges that storyline, arguing that Harris not only allowed Steve Mnuchins OneWest bank to get away with foreclosing on tens of thousands of state homeowners, but then tried to bury the evidence."
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/22/kamala-harris-attorney-general-california-housing-053716
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Azathoth
(4,677 posts)Police pursued Reyes, who fled in his truck. He got out of the vehicle with a shotgun, and "several officers fired multiple shots," killing Reyes, police said in a report.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-police-officer-center-george-floyd-s-death-had-history-n1215691
Of all this guy Chauvin's long history of complaints, this sounds like the only legitimate thing he did. But of course that context is completely omitted because "Death to Klobouchar!"
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,576 posts)Do you think Toles actually "grabbed for Chauvin's gun? That is the dog whistle of the 21st century
"In 2008, Chauvin and a second officer were called to a residence for a domestic disturbance. According to police, Ira Latrell Toles, 21, was holed up in a bathroom and tried to escape when Chauvin got inside. When Toles refused to obey Chauvin's order to get down, police said, a struggle began and Toles grabbed for Chauvin's weapon.
Chauvin fired twice, hitting Toles in the abdomen, the Pioneer Press newspaper of St. Paul reported. Toles was taken to the hospital and survived."
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-police-officer-center-george-floyd-s-death-had-history-n1215691
Azathoth
(4,677 posts)She had been out office for over a year when the Toles shooting took place.
SleeplessinSoCal
(9,576 posts)I am very curious to know why a cop repeatedly violates the civil rights of others got a pass. Recidivism apparently isn't confined the the criminals.
ecstatic
(34,171 posts)My assumption is based on the fact that Biden has some really smart women on his team who are already on top of the situation.
BGBD
(3,282 posts)which case specifically she should have prosecuted?
I watched cops kill a guy once. He had just robbed a bank and was running down the street just after spraying rounds from his AK 47 all over the block.
Should they have been charged? Sometimes it is pretty cut and dry.