Prosecutor Nifong’s fate remains unclear. He could lose his license to practice law in North Carolina because of the ethics charges, and he could face civil charges from the accused players and their families.
By LARA SETRAKIAN
ABC News Law & Justice Unit
April 11, 2007 — After the three former Duke lacrosse players were exonerated of all charges today, the lawyer for Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, who first moved to prosecute, gave ABC News an exclusive reaction to the dismissal.
“He pushed the case as long as he did because at that point he believed in this case,” David Freedman said in reference to Nifong. “Sometimes it takes time for false accusations to get resolved through the legal system, if that is what happened in this case. It doesn’t mean the prosecutor was wrong to go forward.”
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced all charges were dropped today at a press conference.
Much more on this story tonight on “Nightline” at 11:35 p.m. EDT (11 April, Wednesday)
Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty were indicted last year for rape, kidnapping and sexual assault charges tied to an alleged attack at a lacrosse team party on March 13, 2006.
In the hours after the party, one of the two black dancers hired to perform for the players claimed she had been violently raped in a bathroom by white members of the lacrosse team.
In spite of the declaration of innocence made by Attorney General Roy Cooper, it is this editor’s opinion that severe civil action ought to be levelled against the Duke University student body for their flagrant and atrociously ignorant persecution of the lacrosse players, not to mention the university professors and their vindictive PC campaign against the alleged perpetrators. Many must be brought to account including the so-called victim. — editor