So, what’s next? Seems to me the next avenue of inquiry, after Nifong is disbarred and possibly charged criminally, is to investigate the Durham Police Department. Every excess, every malfeasance, every bit of prosecutorial excess was assisted by members of the police department. Mayor Bill “Rose-Colored Glasses” Bell should turn his attention to his men in blue forthwith.
The depiction of Durham at the defense attorney’s press conference the other day was chilling. Durham attorneys Bill Thomas and Bill Cotter were singled out by attorney Joe Cheshire as unsung heroes for having the courage to go against their local DA and his forces. I have no doubt this is true and that they did put themselves in jeopardy, but what does that say about Durham? What does that say about the police, who seemed to ignore exculpatory evidence, harass potential defense witnesses (the cab driver Moez Mustafa, also called a hero by Cheshire), use subterfuge to enter players’ dorm rooms, and target Duke students for harassment.
City leaders need to understand that getting rid of Nifong is not the only thing that needs to be done here.
