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DOJ drops sexual abuse civil rights investigation citing ‘conflict of interest’
MOBILE, Ala. — A Freedom of Information Act request last week showed that the Department of Justice dropped a sexual abuse civil rights investigation the day after President Barack Obama’s inauguration, citing “conflict of interest.”
In 2009, Herman Thomas, a black Democratic judge who had been elected numerous times in an Alabama county with predominantly white and Republican population, saw what had been a promising career come to an abrupt halt after he was indicted on charges of sodomy, kidnapping, sex abuse, extortion, assault and ethics violations. According to the indictment, Thomas was accused of sexually abusing male inmates in exchange for leniency.
According to information received in the FOIA request by Lagniappe, a bi-weekly Mobile, Ala.-based alternative newspaper, an order was sent on Jan. 21, 2009, to drop the investigation citing an undisclosed “conflict of interest.” Ten of 11 pages were withheld in the returned FOIA request.
Though evidence against Thomas was strong, including one of the alleged victims’ semen being found on his office’s carpet, the Mobile County District Attorney’s office did not secure a full guilty verdict. The jury acquitted Thomas on major counts, and was gridlocked on others.
Despite the gridlocked charges, the trial judge directed a verdict on all counts in favor of Thomas.
But that finding did not mean Thomas had been fully cleared of the federal charges he could be facing on civil rights counts — at least that’s what the public thought at the time.
But as it turned out, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama had dropped their investigation, even before the local trial had taken place.
Moe Tom
July 28th, 2012
“We’ll prosecute one of our own.”
Moe Tom
July 28th, 2012
We’ll never, ever.
Blink
July 28th, 2012
In the eyes of Holder and Obama – Thomas is not only one of “my people”, Thomas is also ‘my kind of people.”
Open-Heart Perjury
July 28th, 2012
Behind almost every incident of corruption, you will find one or more democrats. They are never at fault in their own eyes, and they are never guilty in the eyes of obama, Holder, & company. They are not capable of owning up to their crimes and are quick to attempt to divert the blame.
We need to clean house this election year and make this shit stop.
bitterclinger
July 28th, 2012
I fully expect to see a map of the former United States labeled “Sodom” or “Gomorrah.”
Meanwhile, Boehner and the boys are going to FUND OBAMACARE: http://bit.ly/P0vi0S
Cynic
July 28th, 2012
Just one more case where authorities are BF’ing people and getting away with it thanks to Obama and Holder.
Clyde
July 28th, 2012
Wow! What an indictment with that sodomy and sex abuse stuff. Wonder if Hizzoner is a Chick-fil-A boycotter?
Unneutral
July 28th, 2012
Four more years of Obama and this case will look like a blessing.
RANDO
July 28th, 2012
Justice Department my ass.
Stirrin the B.S.
July 28th, 2012
@Rando – it’s the DOI – Department of INjustice.
In fact, Holder sheds a whole new light on Rush’s parody of the Justice Brothers – Revrums Al & Jesse. Little did he know at the time, how prescient he was.
yeah, you know me
July 28th, 2012
what? was backdoor barry gettin some o’ dat sweet action?
Dr. Tar
July 28th, 2012
This is so reprehensible. What conflict of interest could there be to prosecuting a judge who is sodomizing prisoners for exchange of leniency?
What exactly is the interest of the Dept of Justice that there is any kind of conflict with putting this guy away for a very long time.
Clyde
July 28th, 2012
Doc Tar – it conflicts with Holder’s and the rest of the regime’s interests.
Tony R
July 28th, 2012
Wow, a “gridlocked jury”? I’m no lawyer (thank god) but I believe that should be “deadlocked jury”, no? Unless the jury was on it’s way to the courthouse and got stuck in traffic.