'This is History': Police Officer Indicted on Federal Charges in Walter Scott Killing
Charges for former North Charleston officer include violation of civil rights law
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.
A federal grand jury has indicted former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager for the fatal shooting of Walter Scott.
The April 4, 2015 shooting was captured on film by a bystander who later said, "I knew the cop didn't do the right thing."
A statement issued Wednesday from the Department of Justice says that the three-count indictment includes charges for a federal civil rights offense for the shooting, excessive force without legal justification, and obstruction of justice for making false statements to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators.
Slager, who is white, initially pulled over Scott, who is black, for having a broken tail light on his car. As Scott attempted to run away, the North Charleston officer shot the unarmed 50-year-old Navy veteran and father of four five times from behind.
A conviction on the charges mean a potential $250,000 fine and a maximum sentence of a life behind bars. The 34-year-old already faces an and indictment by a state court. The Post and Courier explains:
The new charges could serve as a backstop if the state's case against Slager were to fail. Putting him on trial in both state and federal courts for the same shooting would not be double jeopardy because the jurisdictions are considered sovereign.
"This is history in so many ways," said L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Scott's family, according to CNN. "This never happens," he said of the indictment, citing cases like those of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.
Indeed, as the Post and Courier reports, "The indictment makes the case one of the few high-profile American police killings in recent years to result in a federal criminal charge."
"If this can be the turning point, where the Justice Department is going to step in and help these families," Steward added, "then this is a great day."
Slager remains free on $500,000 state bail.