If he thinks he is going to get any sympathy, he has been smoking something
Raleigh — The man who once pursued rape, sexual assault and kidnapping charges against three former Duke lacrosse players who were later declared innocent by North Carolina’s attorney general says he will resign.
"My community has suffered enough," a tearful Mike Nifong said Friday during his testimony at his State Bar ethics trial to the surprise of the families and defense attorneys of the cleared lacrosse players, as well as others in the courtroom.
Your community? Did he really say that? Yes, he did. I was listening live on the radio earlier in the day, and I damn near yelled out "are you f*cking kidding me?" where others could hear. How about the three players who had their lives destroyed for over a year because of your zeal to get them? How about the coach who was forced to resign? How about the damage to the other players, implicated by extension?
Nifong’s soft-spoken statements were barely audible in the courtroom, where observers leaned forward in their chairs as they struggled to hear the district attorney through his tears.
"To the extent that my actions have caused pain to the Finnertys, Seligmanns and Evans, I apologize. To the extent that my actions have brought disrespect and disrepute to the Bar, to my community, I apologize," he said.
Moments earlier, Nifong said he was moved by Seligmann’s testimony from earlier in the day and called him "a very impressive young man."
Little late for that, Mike, especially since you were calling him and the others names, such as hooligans, and had them convicted before there was any evidence. No need to rehash it all, we know what you did.
And, an apology is not the same one is sorry, if you get my drift.
It’s a shame that all the stories locally are focussing on his "word," if it can be believed, to resign, and ignoring the moving testimony from Reid Seligmann. If you want to listen to it, check out this page from the Raleigh N&O. There are several audio clips.
Others: Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Sister Toldjah, John In Carolina
Video below the fold
And, this sad episode is far from over.
