Everyone says, "Lighten up" from time to time, but this time, I really mean it. The rush to judgement in the Duke Lacrosse scandal was a travesty of justice if ever there was one. But, now that Durham D.A. Mike Nifong has been found guilty of many offenses and disbarred, I think it's time to let it go.
Now, I don't think for one minute that those boys were angels, and almost certainly did or said something rude (at a minimum) to incite Crystal Gail Mangum to falsely accuse them. They were probably drunk, used racial epithets (what a word), etc. and were likely all around butt-heads.
However, being drunk, stupid and rude does not mean a D.A. has free reign to throw you in jail for life just because you and your accuser are of different races and economic background.
It is true that the Duke Lacrosse players could have avoided all of the fuss by simply choosing not to hire a stripper for their party. But I know MANY people who've hired strippers for bachelor parties, etc. and never gotten closer to a jail cell than a speeding ticket.
Nifong was a complete idiot in latching onto the VERY weak accusations of a drunken stripper with a rap sheet as a vehicle for being elected D.A. of Durham County. (Remember, he had never previously been elected . . . He'd been appointed to fill out a vacated term, and this was his FIRST campaign).
Not only did he not interview Mangum himself, he refused to meet with the defendants' attorneys and purposefully withheld exculpatory evidence. At some point, early on, he HAD to have known that (A) They didn't do the crime, or (B) Even if they did, he certainly couldn't prove it in a court of law.
No matter which one of these applies, Nifong should have given up BEFORE the three players were indicted. His actions were inexcusable, negligent, and likely even criminal.
All of this said, I think it's time to move on and leave Nifong to wallow in his own self despair.
The man (deservedly so) has no means of support anymore, and likely didn't get it the time of service he was so desperate to accumulate toward his retirement / pension. As bad as his actions were, Nifong is a pathetic character now.
I know the lacrosse players and their parents will disagree, but I think Nifong has suffered enough. He's been ridiculed, proven to be a liar, lost his job and his law license. What else do they want?
A lawsuit might bring a verdict against Nifong, but it won't net the families any money to repay the tremendous legal debts they've racked up (unless they sue Durham County). A criminal contempt charge (for lying to the court) might net Nifong some jail time, but who will that benefit?
It won't bring back the reputations of the players, and I doubt that it would even give them any satisfaction (if they're honest).
Nifong is finished, period. The only thing I'd like to see is an injunction preventing him from profiting from the fiasco in any manner (books, movies, speaking engagements, etc.)
While he's not a sympathetic figure, Mike Nifong certainly is a tragic figure. Let's move on.
Now, I don't think for one minute that those boys were angels, and almost certainly did or said something rude (at a minimum) to incite Crystal Gail Mangum to falsely accuse them. They were probably drunk, used racial epithets (what a word), etc. and were likely all around butt-heads.
However, being drunk, stupid and rude does not mean a D.A. has free reign to throw you in jail for life just because you and your accuser are of different races and economic background.
It is true that the Duke Lacrosse players could have avoided all of the fuss by simply choosing not to hire a stripper for their party. But I know MANY people who've hired strippers for bachelor parties, etc. and never gotten closer to a jail cell than a speeding ticket.
Nifong was a complete idiot in latching onto the VERY weak accusations of a drunken stripper with a rap sheet as a vehicle for being elected D.A. of Durham County. (Remember, he had never previously been elected . . . He'd been appointed to fill out a vacated term, and this was his FIRST campaign).
Not only did he not interview Mangum himself, he refused to meet with the defendants' attorneys and purposefully withheld exculpatory evidence. At some point, early on, he HAD to have known that (A) They didn't do the crime, or (B) Even if they did, he certainly couldn't prove it in a court of law.
No matter which one of these applies, Nifong should have given up BEFORE the three players were indicted. His actions were inexcusable, negligent, and likely even criminal.
All of this said, I think it's time to move on and leave Nifong to wallow in his own self despair.
The man (deservedly so) has no means of support anymore, and likely didn't get it the time of service he was so desperate to accumulate toward his retirement / pension. As bad as his actions were, Nifong is a pathetic character now.
I know the lacrosse players and their parents will disagree, but I think Nifong has suffered enough. He's been ridiculed, proven to be a liar, lost his job and his law license. What else do they want?
A lawsuit might bring a verdict against Nifong, but it won't net the families any money to repay the tremendous legal debts they've racked up (unless they sue Durham County). A criminal contempt charge (for lying to the court) might net Nifong some jail time, but who will that benefit?
It won't bring back the reputations of the players, and I doubt that it would even give them any satisfaction (if they're honest).
Nifong is finished, period. The only thing I'd like to see is an injunction preventing him from profiting from the fiasco in any manner (books, movies, speaking engagements, etc.)
While he's not a sympathetic figure, Mike Nifong certainly is a tragic figure. Let's move on.
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