Newly released emails reveal coordination after teen's death

[teach1st]

Source: Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago mayor's office, police and the body that investigates police shootings closely coordinated their response in the months after a white officer fatally shot a black teenager in 2014, emails released Thursday revealed.

The messages clearly indicate that advisers to Mayor Rahm Emanuel knew within months that the case could be politically explosive.

Thousands of emails were released in response to open-records requests from The Associated Press and other media regarding 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was killed in October 2014 after being shot 16 times. Few communications from Emanuel's staff mention him directly — though several refer to him by the acronym "MRE."

A video of the officer shooting McDonald — which was not made public until more than a year later, on Nov. 24 — led to protests and repeated calls for Emanuel to resign. The officer has been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty this week at his arraignment.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cab369717139408993bd6b0f9032a572/chicago-releases-hundreds-emails-fatal-police-shooting

[peacebird]

1. Rahm was a dLC/DNC cancer on Obama's first term. I literally felt ill when he was chosen

He has turned out to be everything I feared he would.

[CoffeeCat]

23. Did you ever get the feeling that

Some of Obama's closest advisers were installed for him, and that he really didn't have a say in the matter?

I sure as hell do.

Rahm is a DLC corrupt thug, like the rest of sociopaths in that disgusting club.

[Enthusiast]

28. I got the feeling that something was fundamentally wrong.

[tularetom]

40. There was a plausible explanation for the selection of Emanuel as COS

He was a Chicago area congressman at the same time Obama sat as Senator from Illinois and they would have had many opportunities to work together. Still, if you recall Obama's 2008 campaign and the tone of reform it sounded, I'd have to agree that Emanuel was a very odd choice for the job he got.

I wonder if his appointment was part of the same deal that got Hillary Clinton the SOS job.

[hopemountain]

48. i have felt this way since the morning after

his inauguration. the look and expression on his face after the initial "briefing".
a meeting at the "crossroads" had taken place and he was read the the "orders". social justice issues could be addressed "within certain parameters" but the appointed administration, the banks, the military, corporations, foreign policy, and the courts are off limits. or else. those white house breaches were intentional - to get him to support and push the tpp.

[CoffeeCat]

55. Totally agree

I think Clinton was a forced installation as well.

It was obvious that she was directing Libya and other foreign-policy debacles. It was almost as if we had co-presidents. One (Obama) a sane diplomat trying to hold the warmongers at bay; and another (Hillary) who seemed to be serving the neocon brigade. Libya or "Hillary's War" seemed to be her pet, personal project. Anyone who understands the PNAC/neocon agenda knows that Libya is one of their wish-list countries, along with Iraq, Iran and Syria.

[farleftlib]

56. That was her baby alright

She did a lot of arm twisting to get her way but she ultimately prevailed. It was a war crime, IMHO, and not the only one.

[CoffeeCat]

57. Pretty sick and twisted to use

a Democratic administration to further a Republican neocon agenda, isn't it?

Especially when we chose Obama as the Democratic nominee (and not her), in large part, because of his anti-war votes and stances. We voted for less war and more peace, with Obama.

All of this is so disgusting. Even her husband rebuffed the neocon request for war in 1998, when the neocons send President Bill Clinton a letter requesting that he invade Iraq and oust Saddam. It used to be only the Republicans who leveraged this nonsense. Too bad *some* incredibly sick Democrats thinks this crap belongs in our party. It doesn't.

Libya is a debacle that has turned into a violent catastrophe. "Hillary's war" indeed.

[LeftyMom]

51. No, I think he got exactly who he wanted.

The "evil advisors" excuse is as old as writing, and it's basically never anything but a way to excuse a leader for bad choices while granting full credit for the good.

[Scuba]

2. Isn't conspiracy to cover up a crime, a crime? "Rahm for prison" sounds good to me.

[democrank]

3. Rahm Emanuel should resign and go over to the other side where he belongs.

Long-held Democratic Party principles have undergone enormous erosion thanks to DLCer types like Rahm Emanuel.

[Fuddnik]

5. Rahm should resign and go to prison, where he belongs.

[restorefreedom]

4. so when are we gonna see rahm do the perpwalk?

long overdue

[Truprogressive85]

6. Rahm needs to be in prison this POS lied

Here are some tweets describing the content of the emails
https://twitter.com/natalieymoore:

1. The mayor's office and IPRA were in constant communication about #LaquanMcDonald.

2.City panicked at how Chicagoans would react to #LaquanMcDonald video. Yes, we already knew that but watching them brainstrom via email

3. City tried to rope in @MichaelPfleger. He said nope. City tried for @RevJesseJackson. Nope. Then tried to get ppl to talk to him.

4. City also sent out email outlining #LaquanMcDonald before video came out with talking points for 'partners' 'surrogates.' Lots of drafts.

5. City really really really trying to get @MichaelPfleger and @RevJesseJackson on their side. #LaquanMcDonald

6. Media started FOIA'ing and asking for #LaquanMcDonald video earlier than some may think. Constant FOIAs. Constant nos

7.Some of these black surrogates don't really have standing in the black community. #LaquanMcDonald

8.9. On Nov. 22, White House emailed saying they were monitoring #LaquanMcDonald and wanted an update.

[SusanCalvin]

29. Not only corrupt, but stupid.

Thay didn't think these emails were going to come out?

[Uponthegears]

7. My first New Years predictions

Your post will not find its way to the "Trending Now" or "Greatest Threads" sections, nor will it receive more than three even mildly supportive comment from anyone with the blue (and RED) "Hillary Forward" logo. Instead, it will simply fall down the chronological list until it disappears off the bottom of the page and lands in the "All Lives Matter" dustbin.

The systemic subjugation and murder of people of color in general and young black males in particular is the Third Rail of the Third Way.

That being said, THANK YOU for posting this story.

Laquan McDonald, like Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland etc. did not die because of "bad cops." They died because the criminal justice system targeted them for death before they were ever born. Until we talk about legislators who criminalize trivial conduct solely for the purpose of providing cops with virtually unlimited discretion to initiate an encounter with anyone they want, training academies who teach cops how to use those laws to "lawfully" profile people based upon race, prosecutors who encourage it, judges who condone it, and racist and/or subjugated grand juries who refuse to question why these encounters occur so frequently, police will continue to murder people of color, they will continue to cover it up, mainstream politicians will continue to deny systemic racism and people of color will continue to die.

[appal_jack]

9. Well, here's a k&r (but no "H-->") from me... NT

[Ferd Berfel]

14. I'm afraid you are spot on. But here's hoping you're wrong

[farleftlib]

15. Systemic racism is alive and well

and seems to have pervaded the democratic party. I don't care which letter Rahm Emmanuel puts after his name, he is very much part of the problem. The cover-up should be the nail in this guy's coffin but I suspect he will skate on this.
I hope your predictions are wrong, but I fear they are not.
People of color are in the crosshairs while the system protects "the rights" of the affluenza teen who has yet to suffer any repercussions of his crime.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

17. Hello - it is difficult for me to see you as new around here

I often notice trends - I thought it might be true and even tried to test it

" nor will it receive more than three even mildly supportive comment from anyone with the blue (and RED) "Hillary Forward" logo"

Those Hillary folks will score much higher on the

Authoritarian personality
State
Authoritarian personality is a state of mind or attitude characterized by belief in absolute obedience or submission to one's own authority, as well as the administration of that belief through the oppression of one's subordinates. It usually applies to individuals who are known or viewed as having an authoritative, strict, or oppressive personality towards subordinates.

Many thanks for a very good observation

[Enthusiast]

30. I had a post hidden when I expressed my feelings toward Third Way. Apparently Third Way

has a degree of sacred cow status around here.

[Iggo]

42. Right so far.

[hopemountain]

49. yes. turns my stomach.

and a real revolution will only kill more of the disenfranchised and oppressed. it is disgusting beyond all measure.

[Le Taz Hot]

52. It's got 85 recs

at the moment so apparently, you were wrong.

[Uponthegears]

58. Sadly

La Taz, I fear I ended up being almost completely correct.

I knew there would be some recs because there are still true liberals on DU. I have to admit that I was pleasantly proved wrong in one aspect because it turned out there were enough of us to keep this story on Trending Now for at least a little while.

The core of my comment, now almost 24 hours later, still stands as (okay, actually worse than) predicted. Even though this story was at the top of Trending Now for a couple of hours, not a single Third Way/HillaryForward "Democrat" posted a comment standing against the systemic racism that led to, and then excused, the murder of Laquan McDonald and other people of color.

We are a party divided.

We are a people divided.

[kath]

8. That fucker Rahm needs to do some serious prison time.

[Delver Rootnose]

10. Sounds like that....

..."independent" review board isn't. It is just another fig leaf.

[jalan48]

11. Obama needs to get his Justice Department to look into this.

[kath]

18. yeah, Obama's Justice Dept has been sooooo freaking effective in investigating and curbing murderous

Cops.

NOT.

[Cassiopeia]

21. Lol

There are still people out there smoking the evil wacky tabacky for medical reasons.

[Enthusiast]

31. It must be stamped out.

[Iggo]

41. Evil weed. You must burn it and scatter the seeds to the winds.

[democrank]

12. Kick

[Ferd Berfel]

13. RAHM IS culpable and needs to be on trial for this

even before this news it was obvious.

Suggesting that the City paid $5 mil, without a trial, to the family and the Mayor of Chicago didn't know the full details before he signed off on the payment? Are you kidding me?

We need some kind of independent investigation and prosecution of the entire matter.

And the Democratic party need to purge itself of these right wing DLC Blue Dog Republican lites.

[kath]

19. And wouldn't the Board of Alderman have been aware of the $5 million payoff and why it was being

Made?

If so, they are part of the coverup as well.

[Ferd Berfel]

25. dunno - but if you're right...Yep THEM TOO!

THIS is why we need an independent investigation. And guess what? I don't trust Obama's people on this one either.

fuck 'em all

[ChairmanAgnostic]

46. The puppet strings run deep in ChiRaq, young Paduwan.

[dgibby]

24. They're too busy

purging and denigrating liberals to go after the DLC Blue Dogs.

[Enthusiast]

32. I'm not sure they're so "lite".

[Ferd Berfel]

37. I know

[mountain grammy]

16. Turns out, Rahm.

Black live DO matter! Even as much as yours, Rahm, you privileged piece of shit.

Every citizen who excuses police actions must realize; they will be next. Once we give the police authority to kill at will, we are all at risk, some more than others, but make no mistake, we are all vulnerable when our police are above the law.

[Sienna86]

20. Amen. nt

[Helen Borg]

22. He's gonna go down!

[valerief]

26. Government-sponsored genocide. nt

[chervilant]

27. K & R

Rahm is one of a handful of Obama's appointments that I found abhorrent, and illogical. Arne "I play basketball!" Duncan is another.

Geithner, Bernanke, Daschle, Gupta... Blech.

I want your post to stay visible, so I'll come back anon and give it another kick.

Rahm Emanuel should resign. He should be charged with obstruction, but I have a sneaking suspicion he won't face any dire consequences for his actions.

[Enthusiast]

33. I share your suspicion.

[chervilant]

36. I saw a meme recently

that really resonates for me: something to the effect of "I don't want to live in a country where an honest politician is considered weird or crazy." From a Sanders supporter, natch. But, it seems that pols like Rahm--dishonest and glib--are the rule rather than the exception.

I was going to put HRC on my list, but I didn't want to get swarmed. The Bosnia sniper fire story is problematic, and I think what happened to Libya is partly attributable to her. And, I still don't like her position on fracking (and a number of other issues).

Anyway, we'll have to wait and see what happens to Rahm. I think his political career is over, but he has friends in high places.

[Enthusiast]

43. Friends in high places really count especially when they are friends in highest of places.

[chervilant]

44. And, therein is the

biggest obstacle to supporting HRC: she has friends in the highest of places whose political agendas are anathema to the Hoi Polloi.

[Enthusiast]

47. I have to agree.

[chervilant]

59. Has she said anything re: Rahm?

I wonder if she'll distance herself. Twould be nice if someone on her campaign trail would ask her about Rahm. We'd likely get another example of her dissembling.

[Enthusiast]

60. Not a peep that I've heard. I can't imagine her throwing Rahm under the bus.

[saltpoint]

34. Even before the killing of Laquan McDonald,

tensions in Chicago ran high.

Rahm Emanuel has not been able to unite the city. Not saying uniting disparate groups and viewpoints is simple work, but it's part of the job description of a big city mayor.

A strong argument can be made that Rahm is not up to the task. Or, that he was ill-intentioned in seeking the job in the first place.

Right now Rahm is the mayor who closed 50 schools and who (allegedly) withheld evidence in a police shooting case which the public had every right to see and consider.

You don't as mayor do those things to constituent groups in your city and then turn around and ask for their support for your political survival.

[gwheezie]

38. Who can we believe to investigate this

It's not just Rahm, its the entire system our country functions on that is racist. Black lives matter.

[Feeling the Bern]

39. Coverups are always worse than the shit that happens. Ask Nixon

He literally didn't know Watergate was happening, but instead of throwing them to the wolves, he okayed and helped plan the coverup.

Rahm needs to resign now! And CPD needs to be taken over by the Justice Department for a full audit.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

45. MRE - moles ready to egest.

[hopemountain]

50. emanuel (sic) is above the law

the rules do not apply to him. he is annointed by the 1%.

[Octafish]

53. Conspiracy to obstruct justice in a case of homicide.

The cops lied from the second the child died, creating evidence to make the kid look like a crook and destroying evidence that showed themselves to be criminals. The mayor's office coordinated with the cops in obstructing justice in a case involving the intentional shooting of a child for no good reason.

This isn't merely the Mayor's office covering up what looks like the cover-up of murder by the Chicago PD for Chicago electoral politics. Rahm and friends did it to protect their sorry selves from responsibility. That says a lot about what passes for leadership today.

[Babel_17]

54. This is heading towards one ending

Unless someone directly under Rahm Emmanuel willingly falls on their sword in a most gruesome manner.

Precursors to that will be politicians tied to him gnawing off their limbs to distance themselves. He has enormous power, so a big pow-wow with the aim to solidify a coalition to remove him, and a severance package arranged, might be in order. No formal meeting is actually needed, just a meeting of minds.

If the President and top Democrats cut him loose, look out. The threat of the DOJ swinging by for an in depth look-see can be an amazing catalyst for change. Especially in a place like Chicago.