New northern Ohio U.S. attorney dismantles civil rights unit, creates new violent crime division
New northern Ohio U.S. attorney dismantles civil rights unit, creates new violent crime division
By Eric Heisig, cleveland.com Updated on October 5, 2017 at 11:30 AM Posted on October 4, 2017 at 7:01 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Recently installed U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said he has dismantled the office's civil rights unit and has established a new division that will focus on prosecuting violent crime.
The civil rights unit served as the crown jewel of the office under former top prosecutors Steve Dettelbach and Carole Rendon and handled some of the most high-profile criminal prosecutions under those administrations.
The realignment appears to track what U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions set in motion as his priorities for the Justice Department under the Trump Administration, though Herdman, in his first interview as U.S. attorney since taking over in August, said Tuesday afternoon that his restructuring was mostly shaped by his assessment of the office and feedback from local law enforcement.
http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2017/10/new_northern_ohio_us_attorney.html