Mike Nifong Does NOT Admit He Was Wrong or Apologize to the Duke University Lacrosse Players
“I agree with the attorney general’s statement that there is no credible evidence that Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty or Mr. Evans committed any of the crimes for which they were indicted — or any other crimes [against Crystal Mangum] during the party” -Mike Nifong, former Durham County (North Carolina) district attorney
The interesting thing about this comment is that newspapers are using headlines such as “Nifong Admits That Duke Lacrosse Players Didn’t Commit Any Crime” and “Nifong Apologizes to Duke Defendants”. In fact, he worded his statement very carefully to avoid doing either: He said that he agreed with North Carolina’s Attorney General that there was no evidence that could convict them — which he knew a year ago. He never said they were innocent. He never said he was sorry he prosecuted them (only for his unspecified “mistakes”).
Why not just flat-out apologize then? After all, Nifong’s life as he knew it is already over: His political career is gone, he’s been disbarred, and Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith III — in front of whom he made today’s statement — is deciding whether to send him to prison for 30 days on contempt charges. Civil suits by the former defendants are almost certain, and additional criminal charges are possible.
Well, for the same reason Nifong put himself in this position in the first place: ego. He wants the public — and Judge Smith — to believe he’s seen the error of his ways, but in his own mind, he actually never backed down.
The Full Text of Nifong’s Statement
With the court’s permission, I would have a brief statement: The last 16 months have proven to be a difficult and painful journey for my family and for myself. I know this has also been a difficult and painful journey for Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans, for their families, for Durham and for the state of North Carolina.
We all need to heal. I believe, however, that this healing process cannot truly begin until all proceedings involving this matter are concluded and everyone is able to go forward. I have resigned my position as Durham’s district attorney as a part of this process.
I have read the report released by the attorney general, including his recitation of evidence I did not have — evidence that he obtained from his own investigation.
I agree with the attorney general’s statement that there is no credible evidence that Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty or Mr. Evans committed any of the crimes for which they were indicted — or any other crimes against (the accuser) — during the party that occurred on March 13th and 14th, 2006, at North Buchanan Boulevard in Durham.
Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty and Mr. Evans were entitled to the presumption of innocence when the were under indictment. Surely they are entitled to more than that now as they go forward for the rest of their lives, and that is what the attorney general tried to give them in his declaration that they are innocent.
I have admitted on more than one occasion that I have made mistakes in the prosecution of these cases. For that, I sincerely apologize to Mr. Seligmann, Mr. Finnerty, Mr. Evans and to their families.
It is my hope that all of us can learn from the mistakes in this case, that all of us can begin to move forward. It is my hope that we can start this process today.
Thank you, your honor.