Home <http://www.washingtontimes.com/> » News <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news> » *National* <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/national>
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Justice Dept. moves Panthers pursuer to S.C.
Rate this story
/critic/1/1/79/406483/vote/?r=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/
/critic/1/2/79/406483/vote/?r=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/
/critic/1/3/79/406483/vote/?r=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/
/critic/1/4/79/406483/vote/?r=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/
/critic/1/5/79/406483/vote/?r=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/
Average 5.00
after 4 votes
Login or register to rate this story <javascript:registration_callback();>
* Font Size -
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?source=newsletter_must-read-stories-today_headlines#>+
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?source=newsletter_must-read-stories-today_headlines#>
* Print
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic//print/>
* Email
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/mailfriend/79/406483/e28c306efc/>
* Comment
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?source=newsletter_must-read-stories-today_headlines#comments>
* Tweet this!
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?source=newsletter_must-read-stories-today_headlines#>
* Yahoo! Buzz
<http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?publisherurn=washington_ti859&guid=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2009%2Fdec%2F29%2Fjustice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic%2F>
*
Share <http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=washingtontimes>
* Article
* Comments (70)
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/comments/>
* Click-2-Listen
<javascript:OpenC2LWindow('WashingtonTimes','news_2009_dec_29_justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic',m_nwamp3_file,'dfp_zone='+sitepage,'WashingtonTimes','','Production');void(0);>
* Videos
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/videos/>
More National Stories
* Phone points illegal crossers to water
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/phone-points-illegal-border-crossers-water/>
* Consumer confidence, home prices rise
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/home-prices-consumer-confidence-rise/>
* Broadcasters' woes could spell trouble for free TV
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/broadcasters-woes-could-spell-trouble-free-tv/>
* Ruling reveals custody battle for Palin's grandson
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/ruling-reveals-custody-battle-palins-grandson/>
By Jerry Seper <http://www.washingtontimes.com/staff/jerry-seper/>
The veteran Justice Department voting rights section chief who
recommended going forward on a civil complaint against members of the
New Black Panther Party after they disrupted a Pennsylvania polling
place in last year's elections has been removed from his post and
transferred to the U.S. attorney's office in South Carolina.
Justice Department officials confirmed Monday that Christopher Coates,
who signed off on the complaint's filing in federal court in
Philadelphia in January accusing the party and three of its members of
civil rights violations, would begin his new assignment next month.
The complaint, which accused party members of intimidating voters at a
Philadelphia polling place while wearing black berets, black combat
boots, black dress shirts and black jackets with military-style
markings, and wielding a nightstick, was later dismissed by Obama
administration political appointees at the Justice Department.
The incident gained national attention when it was captured on videotape
and distributed on YouTube.
The dismissal resulted in outrage by some Republican members of Congress
and in a formal investigation by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
which subpoenaed Mr. Coates and J. Christian Adams, the lead attorney in
the case, to testify on why the complaint was dismissed. The commission
also is seeking documents to explain why the charges were dropped just
as a federal judge was about to approve sanctions.
Justice Department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler on Monday said that as a
general policy, the department does not comment on personnel matters,
but she said she could confirm that Mr. Coates continues to be a Justice
employee and will begin an 18-month detail with the U.S. attorney's
office in South Carolina, beginning in January.
Ms. Schmaler also said the decision to move Mr. Coates to a new position
within the department had nothing to do with the New Black Panther Party
case but was the result of conversations Mr. Coates initiated with
officials within the Civil Rights Division earlier this year.
She did not elaborate.
Mr. Coates declined to comment and referred inquiries Monday to the
department's public affairs office.
Kevin McDonald, spokesman for U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins in
Columbia, S.C., confirmed Monday that Mr. Coates had been "detailed" to
that office and that officials there were "looking forward to his
arrival." He said the veteran civil rights attorney had been assigned to
the office's criminal division.
[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
<http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/>
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC
12
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?page=2>Next
»
<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/29/justice-transfers-panthers-pursuer-out-of-dc-offic/?page=2>
Post a comment
There are *70 comments* on this article, submit your opinion!
--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.<<inline: icopy-w.gif>>
