Saturday, January 13, 2007

Dissension among the Troika

Over the last few months, as ally after ally abandoned Mike Nifong, his sole remaining advisors became the Troika: wife Cy Gurney, “investigator” Linwood Wilson, and “activist” Victoria Peterson. These three appear to have come up with the idea to send Wilson to “interrogate” the accuser on December 21. Wilson's “report” set into motion the chain of events culminating in yesterday’s recusal.

Members of the Troika, however, made clear their disapproval of the move. In one of the case’s most bizarre lines, John Stevenson reported that Nifong’s “wife, Cy Gurney, said he had not mentioned his request to her.” He didn’t mention it?

Peterson, meanwhile, descended to the steps of the county courthouse, where she convened a 4pm “rally for justice” yesterday. The event, which was captured by ABC-11’s cameras, attracted a total of two people. (Truth is stranger than fiction.) Peterson lashed out, “There is no reason [for the recusal]. We have a district attorney who is well able, qualified, to do his job.”

While Gurney and Peterson will live to fight another day, Wilson’s fate seems darker. The only Troika member not to issue a public reaction to the recusal will have his work thoroughly examined over the next several weeks. Uninvolved investigators from the AG’s office surely will ask hard questions as to the origins of and motives for the December 21 “interrogation” and “report.”

At this stage, it’s hard to muster much sympathy for any of the Troika.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

KC, great job. I've enjoyed reading this blog. Apparently, on the Chronicle blog, there have been 2 (or more, or less) 'staff' members of Duke rigging polls. Link "http://www.dukechronicle.com/messageboard/index.cfm?event=viewtopic&umessage_id=3d0778bb-e143-440f-9488-de0acba18f35". Anyway you could dig into this? I'd love to know if Holloway has been engaged in such behavior.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

from a non-lawyer/retired professor: Could it be Nifong was just following the advice of his legal counsel (Freedman) recently hired?

Anonymous said...

bah, link...see if this works

Anonymous said...

The media's continued use of the phrase "community activist" to describe Peterson is pretty funny.

What community of nutbars is she supposed to be part of?

Anonymous said...

Finally, finally, finally, the Communist Pary of the US has weighed in.

A transmission from Raleigh FIST-Fight Imperialism, Stand Together-youth group

Well, actually the G88 statement was the first time, but they make compelling points none-the-less

Anonymous said...

Nifong's just delusional.

The problem in this case really wasn't Nifong - it was the fact that there was no one to put Nifong back in his place.

Our whole system of government is based on the idea of checks and balances. It took an extremely awkward action by the state bar to create this conflict of interest.

It's no substitute for a mechanism of removing prosecutors from cases they're mismanaging.

Anonymous said...

CNN plans to carry live the press conference of the NCAG at 230.

Anonymous said...

A transmission from Raleigh FIST-Fight Imperialism, Stand Together-youth group

Clearly this nutjob deserves to be a tenured professor at Duke.

Anonymous said...

2:11PM tks for the heads-up!

Anonymous said...

2:11 There is much merit in your observation. I thought the DOJ and FBI guys would have been involved a long time ago. If for no other reason. than to show Americans, they were on the job. No one in the justice system can hold their head up on this deal. The right to a speedy trial has been shattered. Ten months later and no trial date. In fact. Osbourne's request for one was denied by the NC judge.Who would have thought? Exposing this stuff can only make us stronger.

Anonymous said...

Wilson will be interviewed by a new DA. Should be fun.

So she said that was the picture going in?

What about the neighbor saying it was 12:00?

What about the time stamp on the photos?

What about the missing shoe?

What about the missing "paste on finger nails"?

Now you didn't help create a false report/statement?

Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D. said...

The NC AG is fixing to have a press conference on CNN.

Anonymous said...

Just returned from duck hunt and heard the news. I am in major gloat mode, sorry. My bar buddy did NOT let me down, only being careful. Remember, I said that this week, I had been told it would be over, I expected Nifungu to drop the charges. I posted earlier in the week that I appeared to be wrong.
My friend was messing with me.

So it is over. Roy Cooper served with me in the General Assembly, he is a good guy. It is over!

EXCEPT, for the perp walk Mikey will take in G'boro to the Fed courthouse!

Oh, Happy Day!

Kemp

Anonymous said...

just a chuckle that I actually just accessed acommunist party website. They seem like such a quaint anachronism from our past, and yet, still around calling on all workersto unite.

And I agree with 2:17, the author will soon have a professor's job

Anonymous said...

CNN?? NOT, Watch on FOX!!
Just say NO to Nancy Grace, CNN Employee.

FOX for us.

Kemp

Anonymous said...

And while in gloat mode, remember frustration mode as yet two more legal "experts" tout how the ACCUSER deserves her day in court (that was on MSNBC)

Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D. said...

"CNN?? NOT, Watch on FOX!!"

Will do!

Anonymous said...

Cooper presser play-by-play by Epublius on TL:

http://forums.talkleft.com/index.php/topic,1051.0.html

Anonymous said...

Cooper takes the case... says it will take some time to address...

Anonymous said...

Problems that the new prosecutor found himself in several years ago.

Joe Neff story

Anonymous said...

LOL, 'Holloway' has posted on a Chronicle comment thread:

K.C. Holloway
posted 1/12/07 @ 11:35 PM EST
All of you on this board are impoverished in intellect and spirit.

My struggle for justice shall not end until I am righteously removed from all teaching responsibilties, committee assignments, administrative burdens and required office hours.

With Peter Lange as my savior.

Anonymous said...

Cooper brings us back from wonderland. Thank god. It is about time.

M. Simon said...

Evidently the Durham community has found a better use for its pots.

Like cooking.

M. Simon said...

anon 2:31,

I think the correct appelation is either Jailfong or Brokefong.
Possibly both.

Anonymous said...

To 2:10 PM:

The author of that piece was Yolanda Carrington, who has trolled on this board and on the Liestoppers blog. She has give us this gobbledy-gook for years, but, unfortunately for her, she does not have a doctorate, so she cannot get on the Duke faculty. Maybe she can find a job across town.

As you can see, the communist version of law simply is raw force to be used against anyone who is declared "an enemy of the people."

Anonymous said...

Read 2:47's Neff story from 2004. Note what happened on Easley's watch as attorney general. Now is not the time to relax. Three lacrosse players have been fraudulently charged with crimes they didn't commit. Nifong's criminal conduct includes playing games with the lineup procedures, hiding DNA evidence that cleared the players eight months ago, conspiring with the Burlington DNA lab to hide such evidence. Mangum's lies change frequently. She has no credibility and should be criminally charged. Demand action from the Department of Justice.

Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D. said...

Bill Anderson said,

"As you can see, the communist version of law simply is raw force to be used against anyone who is declared "an enemy of the people.""

In my opinion, Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes bought into that version of the law as well.

Anonymous said...

GP,

Did you read Roman Polanski's take on Holloway? Hysterical. Posted 1:40 on today's other string.

Anonymous said...

KC; please tell us more about the two people who attended Victoria Peterson's press conference. I,m sure they are very important.

M. Simon said...

Roman,

Re: your 1:40 on the other thread.

You are too kind.

Michael said...

Some mention of the removal of contact information for the Christian Gospel singer would have been appropriate too.

Anonymous said...

MS,

No, the last thing I am is kind--LOL

Keep up the good work.

RP

Anonymous said...

Nifong said the reason hes removing himself from this case is so that the FA can recieve a fair trial. Whats wrong with this statement?

Anonymous said...

Troika
Russian - a sleigh drawn by three horses. Three horses driven abreast. I have two post-graduate degrees and have never come across the word Troika. What a great word. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

4:21 re troika

You've never read Tolstoy?

start with "War and Peace," arguably the greatest novel ever committed to paper

RP

Anonymous said...

I have been glued to your site for the past month KC and your research is superb. I once lived in Durham and I have met both Nifong and Linwood. I do not no either Cy or Victoria. For the life of me, I can not see Linwood as an advisor, only a minion. IMO, he is as dumb as a box of rocks.

Anonymous said...

Just about everyone who lined up with Nifong have lost their reputation. I know nothing about Freedman, but he needs to be careful. With the families hiring the best defense attorneys in NC, where was Freedman on the list?

Anonymous said...

If you want to see a leaked photo of dear Crystal's new baby girl, go to

www.thenoseonyourface.com

If they remake The Exorcist, this kid is a natural.

Anonymous said...

4:21: I have two post-graduate degrees and have never come across the word Troika.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troika_%28triumvirate%29

...gives lots of usages, including:

NKVD Troikas
The word became notorious in the Soviet Union during the Stalinist era: troikas replaced the normal legal system for quick persecution of dissidents or anybody accused of political crimes. This quickly turned into witchhunts, which filled the country with dread.

The perfect name for them, innit?

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Johnson: After all the hard work and brilliant examination you have been doing, I thought you needed a good rest - and a laugh - from your toils. I hope the attached photo comes through. It had me on the floor!

http://tinyurl.com/y2a3hj

Anonymous said...

Roy Cooper kept saying cases - plural. Did Nifong turn over the quad homixide also. Anyone know anything about the cases?

The Dude said...

I think it will be interesting. linwood Wilson will either have to say he was too incompetent to inter view the accuser or Ms. robert's OR he was ordered not to by Nifong. there is a third option. They were hiding and interviewing her all along(as needed). Nifong has no idea how deep he dug this hole. He is not slick or shrew. He is just another stupid person with some power.

I would love to see the Police, Wilson, nifong's staff when they line up and start talking. Even money says nifong actually conferenced the withholding of evidence in the Meehan matter.

Anonymous said...

01/19/98 Newsweek, Page 62

January 6, 1964, was a long day for Martin Luther King Jr. He spent the morning seated in the reserved section of the Supreme Court, listening as lawyers argued New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a landmark case rising out of King's crusade against segregation in Alabama. The minister was something of an honored guest: Justice Arthur Goldberg quietly sent down a copy of Kings account of the Montgomery bus boycott, "Stride Toward Freedom," asking for an autograph. That night King retired to his room at the Willard Hotel. There FBI bugs reportedly picked up 14 hours of party chatter, the clinking of glasses and the sounds of illicit ***--including King's cries of "I'm f--ing for God" and "I'm not a Negro tonight!"

Anonymous said...

It is remarkable, this very valuable message