Last Sunday I sent the following letter to Frayda S. Bluestein, Professor of Public Law and Government, Associate Dean for Faculty Development, School of Government, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and posted it to my blog. I also made the City of Greensboro aware of my effort and posted the Court's decision to the comments at Ben Holder's blog and to other places on the web.
On Tuesday night at the regularly scheduled Greensboro City Council meeting "...Mayor Robbie Perkins recognized city staff for a period of speeches not, for some reason, on the agenda..." Roch Smith Jr continues "...The City Manager, Police Chief and City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Kahn spoke, each taking on a slice of the controversy surrounding the recent Yes!Weekly police surveillance story and the failed attempt by the city to stop Yes! from publishing its story.
Shah-Kahn's presentation was less than genuine."
Here's why: An excerpt from my letter to Professor Frayda S. Bluestein.
"In researching this subject I have found a Federal court decision that appears to counter what you told Mr Holder.
Laws have been broken. Probably more than we know. Currently there is a cover-up going on. Mayor Robbie Perkins, City Manager Denise Turner Roth, Police Chief Ken Miller and City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Kahn all know this to be true, thus the unexpected, rushed and botched appearance on Tuesday night. It's long past time State and Federal investigators were called in.
If Chief Ken Miller will not exercise his sworn duty as Chief of Police of the City of Greensboro to investigate the City of Greensboro then it's time the Greensboro City Council went into emergency session to demand a complete investigation before any more evidence can be tampered with by City staff and employees.
Chief Miller, do not disgrace the Greensboro Police Department while trying to cover for the actions of the City of Greensboro and Mayor Robbie Perkins. Our officers deserve far better.
On Tuesday night at the regularly scheduled Greensboro City Council meeting "...Mayor Robbie Perkins recognized city staff for a period of speeches not, for some reason, on the agenda..." Roch Smith Jr continues "...The City Manager, Police Chief and City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Kahn spoke, each taking on a slice of the controversy surrounding the recent Yes!Weekly police surveillance story and the failed attempt by the city to stop Yes! from publishing its story.
Shah-Kahn's presentation was less than genuine."
Here's why: An excerpt from my letter to Professor Frayda S. Bluestein.
"In researching this subject I have found a Federal court decision that appears to counter what you told Mr Holder.
"A confidential informant is a person who provides information about criminal activity to law enforcement officers. The identities of these individuals are privileged in order to protect these individuals against retribution from those involved in crime. Statements made by a confidential informant are testimonial in nature, and therefore, may not be offered by the government to establish the guilt of an accused absent an opportunity for the accused to cross-examine the informant. However, evidence that is provided merely by way of background or is offered only to explain how certain events came to pass or why the officers took the actions they did, is not offered for the truth of the matter asserted. [United States v. Warman, 578 F.3d 320 (6th Cir. Ohio 2009)] "
If a CI's identity is in-fact privileged as stated by the 6th Circuit Court then how can it be possible for the release of that person's name to be legal?
Logic would preclude that it cannot be legal to release the name of a confidential informant to the public.
I am also of the opinion that any newspaper that knowingly releases the name of a confidential informant gained from records provided by government whether intentional or not, would be considered aiding and abetting a crime by government."
Laws have been broken. Probably more than we know. Currently there is a cover-up going on. Mayor Robbie Perkins, City Manager Denise Turner Roth, Police Chief Ken Miller and City Attorney Mujeeb Shah-Kahn all know this to be true, thus the unexpected, rushed and botched appearance on Tuesday night. It's long past time State and Federal investigators were called in.
If Chief Ken Miller will not exercise his sworn duty as Chief of Police of the City of Greensboro to investigate the City of Greensboro then it's time the Greensboro City Council went into emergency session to demand a complete investigation before any more evidence can be tampered with by City staff and employees.
Chief Miller, do not disgrace the Greensboro Police Department while trying to cover for the actions of the City of Greensboro and Mayor Robbie Perkins. Our officers deserve far better.
