On Thursday, the NAACP officially alleged that it was “impossible” for St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch to be impartial and called for a special prosecutor to investigate the shooting death of Michael Brown.
NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks said that McCulloch is “a man with deep personal, family, and professional ties to the local police department” and mentioned that McCulloch’s father “was a police officer killed in the line of duty in 1964” by a black man and “his brother, uncle, and cousin all served in the St. Louis Police Department.” He noted that McCulloch’s “mother was a clerk in the department.”
“This is the man who is supposed to remain unbiased, present evidence to a grand jury, and bring charges against the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown,” Williams wrote. “It is impossible to believe he can remain unbiased in this case. So far, local investigators and law enforcement have been slow to speak to witnesses, eager to arrest journalists and attack peaceful protesters, and surprisingly quick to release unrelated video ‘evidence’ only meant to distract from the investigation. Does this seem unbiased to you?”
Prosecutors started to present evidence to a grand jury on Wednesday, and McCulloch said the process may take months. He has previously said his father’s killing does not bias him in his job.
“Send an urgent message to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Attorney General Chris Koster demanding the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Michael Brown’s shooting,” Brooks urged. “We can still restore trust in this case, but only if Governor Jay Nixon or state Attorney General Chris Koster acts today.”
McCulloch has said that he has “absolutely no intention” of stepping down and, after accusing Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) of “doublespeak,” recently said that Nixon should “man up” and decide quickly if he wants McCulloch replaced
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