Feds probe Chicago police perjury claims

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The federal government is investigating claims that Chicago police tortured numerous murder suspects and lied about it under oath, U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said Wednesday.

Chicago police have been haunted for decades by allegations that detectives at a South Side violent crimes unit dunked suspects in water, beat them and subjected them to electric shocks to wring out confessions.

Fitzgerald said at a news conference that his investigation focuses on possible false statements and obstruction of justice connected to pending civil lawsuits over torture allegations from the 1980s.

A $6 million, four-year investigation by two special prosecutors produced a 300-page report that said scores of suspects were tortured but the cases were too old to warrant criminal charges. Attorneys who have filed civil suits on behalf of five alleged victims have asked Fitzgerald's office to delve into the claims.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_re_us/police_torture_2

[bluestateguy]

1. Remember the LAPD Rampart Scandal?

Nobody cared. I would be willing to bet that the same people who were "outraged" that Clinton would lie under oath about a blow job probably could have cared less that police perjured themselves to put away hundreds of men for crimes they did not commit.

[madrchsod]

2. it`s going to be tuff to get anything out of this

because of the statue of limitations..oh ya this guy has to be the next attorney general when the democrats take the presidency

[Beerboy]

3. Police officers might sometims lie?

Heaven forfend!

[mark414]

4. i thought it's okay for police to do whatever's necessary for their job??

:sarcasm:

[Trillo]

5. From the 1980s?

That makes it sound like it was under the former control of a military dictator, and past allegations can only now be investigated.

[BamaLefty]

6. Talk about a black eye... Geez n/t