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(3,731 posts)
13. There won't be any Federal charges,
Thu Jul 18, 2013, 11:01 AM
Jul 2013

there is no evidence that this was a hate crime, race related crime, the FBI investigated, interveiwed 47 of his friends, neighbors, co-workers and not one of them said he was a racist.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/us-usa-florida-shooting-idUSBRE86B1AD20120712

(Reuters) - FBI interviews with dozens of friends, coworkers and neighbors of George Zimmerman found no evidence that the accused murderer of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was a racist, according to new documents released on Thursday.


The Martin family, the DA's office, the police have all said that race wasn't involved here.

Here's another article you might want to read.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/2013/07/15/civil-rights-case-zimmerman-won-simple/u4NNXk5VRdpQMPZIB5R23M/story-1.html

Civil rights case vs. Zimmerman won't be simple

The department says it’s reviewing evidence to determine whether criminal civil rights charges are warranted, but legal experts see major barriers to a federal prosecution — including the burden of proving that Zimmerman, the former neighborhood watch leader, was motivated by racial animosity — and say Justice officials would likely be saddled with some of the same challenges that complicated the unsuccessful state case.


‘‘The Justice Department would face significant challenges in bringing a federal civil rights case against Mr. Zimmerman,’’ said Alan Vinegrad, the former U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York. ‘‘There are several factual and legal hurdles that federal prosecutors would have to overcome: They'd have to show not only that the attack was unjustified, but that Mr. Zimmerman attacked Mr. Martin because of his race and because he was using a public facility, the street.’


In this case, federal prosecutors pursuing a civil rights case would need to establish, among other things, that Zimmerman was motivated by racial animosity, even though race was barely mentioned at the state trial.


Lauren Resnick, a former federal prosecutor in New York who secured a conviction in the killing of an Orthodox Jew during the 1991 Crown Heights riots in Brooklyn, said the Justice Department could conceivably proceed under a theory that Zimmerman interfered with Martin’s right to walk down a public street based on his race. But even that is difficult since the conflict occurred in a gated community, which may not fit the legal definition of a public facility. Prosecutors would also probably need to prove that trailing Martin on the street constituted interference, she said.


Samuel Bagenstos, a former No. 2 official in the Justice Department’s civil rights division, said: ‘‘This is an administration that hasn’t shied away from bringing hate crimes cases that are solid prosecutions based on the facts and the law, but from what I've seen this would be a very difficult case to prosecute federally because the government would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that George Zimmerman acted because of Trayvon Martin’s race. If you’re trying to prove racial motivation, you are usually looking for multiple statements related to why he is engaging in this act of violence. I think it’s a difficult case to prove.’’


This whole thing about Federal charges is bullshit and AG Holder knows it, he's doing nothing more than pandering.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

They already look stupid. nt alsame Jul 2013 #1
They're really going to hate it when all that money LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #2
+1 darkangel218 Jul 2013 #3
Unfortunately, Jenoch Jul 2013 #4
Is that just in Florida? It didn't work for O.J. LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #6
The O.J. case Jenoch Jul 2013 #8
What if he's convicted on federal charges? LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #10
I have read stories Jenoch Jul 2013 #11
Yes, I'm sure it will be a long shot, if charges are filed at all. n/t LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #12
There won't be any Federal charges, premium Jul 2013 #13
Why would the Martin family say that race wasn't involved here ... ananda Jul 2013 #21
Their family lawyer, Daryl Parks, stated on national televison, premium Jul 2013 #24
Perhaps he simply meant that the racial aspect was secondary to, you know, the fact that they lost nomorenomore08 Jul 2013 #25
But that's not what he said, premium Jul 2013 #28
It is Florida law. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #9
O.J.'s supposed crime was committed in Los Angeles, CA. n/t RebelOne Jul 2013 #32
The more jurors from that trail open their mouths, the more likely Zimmerman will lose bluestate10 Jul 2013 #5
Let's hope they keep talking. LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #7
Sigh... Jenoch Jul 2013 #14
I don't think he's immune from a Federal civil rights suit meow2u3 Jul 2013 #18
I was not responding to a post about Jenoch Jul 2013 #19
the guy on cnn said that, but he made it sound okieinpain Jul 2013 #20
Your post is the first time I've heard that it is limited immunity. Jenoch Jul 2013 #22
If u lose a case aginst him ceonupe Jul 2013 #26
Your premise is incorrect. Mr. David Jul 2013 #27
From what I understand, and I could be wrong, premium Jul 2013 #29
Never said reason by self-defense. Mr. David Jul 2013 #30
It's not my premise. Jenoch Jul 2013 #31
How can jurors' comments expose defendants to civil litigation? JVS Jul 2013 #16
They won't feel stupid. Mariana Jul 2013 #15
Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #17
The system was rigged to free Zimmerman and keep him immune. ananda Jul 2013 #23
They are already defending the perjury/money laundering noamnety Jul 2013 #33
They ARE stupid. Zoeisright Jul 2013 #34
Do you think Zimmerman supporters care about looking stupid? NoGOPZone Jul 2013 #35
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