Oh, OK. Well if she says so…
Via Truth Revolt:
Minutes before Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced a long list of charges against six officers in the death of Freddie Gray, the Fraternal Order of Police called for Mosby to recuse herself from the case, citing a conflict of interest due to personal connections.
The police union’s president, Gene Ryan, released a letter Friday calling for Mosby to appoint a special prosecutor in her stead. Maintaining that “none of the officers involved are responsible for the death of Mr. Gray,” Ryan expresses “deep concerns” about Mosby’s personal “conflicts”:
These conflicts include your personal and professional relations with Gray family attorney, William Murphy, and the lead prosecutor’s connections with members of the local media. Based on several nationally televised interviews, these reporters are likely to be witnesses in any potential litigation regarding this incident.
Among Mosby’s connections to Murphy is his support of her recent campaign, to which he donated $5,000, and his service on her transition committee.
But more importantly, the union argued, the position of Mosby’s husband could be “directly impacted” by the case:
Most importantly, it is clear that your husband’s political future will be directly impacted, for better or worse, by the outcome of your investigation. In order to avoid any appearance of impropriety or a violation of the Professional Rules of Professional Responsibility, I ask that you appoint a Special Prosecutor to determine whether or not any charges should be filed.
We recognize that there are many dimensions to this situation: the public sentiments — on all sides; the investigation being conducted by your office; the internal police investigation; and a necessary review of the tools, equipment, and resources afforded to Baltimore police officers in order to carry out their sworn duty as police officers.
A spokesman for Mosby responded to Ryan’s concerns about Murphy in a statement to the Baltimore Sun, saying that her husband’s position cannot be held against her and she feels there is “no conflict of interest” in her relationship with Murphy:
State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby has been elected by the residents in Baltimore City to uphold the law in every neighborhood including her own, regardless of if her husband is the councilman within the district where numerous crimes occur…