This case has twists and turns like no other. It reveals just how poorly our criminal justice system can operate, especially under political pressure.
Seven cops were involved in a shooting incident on the Danziger Bridge, six days after the storm. Responding to a "shots fired, cops down" report they found a chaotic situation on the Danziger Bridge that they only made worse. Two civilians are killed by the police and several others wounded and injured. One civilian, Lance Madison is arrested for attempted murder of police officers, but later released. National attention on the storm focuses attention on this story.
An internal police investigation clears the cops. But public outcry is strong. Archie Kaufman the lead investigator, will later be convicted of conspiring with the others to cover up the actual details.
Local DA, Eddie Jordan gets an indictment of six of the officers in state court but the indictment is quashed by state judge Bigelow for prosecutorial misconduct. Jordan apparently resisted turning over exculpatory evidence to the defense and had several run ins with Bigelow. At one point Jordan asked (?) that Bigelow recuse himself. After the indictment was quashed Jordan found he had bigger problems and did not follow up.
Sensing an injustice (?) the Feds get involved by initiating a Civil Rights investigation. They break the case by turning one of the cops. Officer Hunter accepts a guilty verdict to lesser charges and makes a public statement. Officer Hunter's
statement is published and damning.
The Federal case moves forward and in 2011 yields convictions of the four remaining primary accused and wraps up others including Kaufman for participating in the cover up. Lots of deals are offered along the way to get testimony. Strangely as the investigation and trial progressed detailed and accurate anonymous comments appeared on NOLA.com, providing details to the public that appeared highly prejudicial to the accused.
In 2012 it is revealed that those comments came from senior prosecutors in Letten's office. The revelations result in numerous resignations culminating in Letten's precipitous resignation in December 2012.
In September 2013 the Federal trial judge ordered a retrial based on prosecutorial misconduct. Engelhardt pointed to "unprecedented events and acts" that "has taken the court on a legal odyssey unlike any other." The defense had argued that the comments in NOLA.com amounted to a public relations campaign against the accused.
Also in September, Kenneth Polite is confirmed by the Senate as the new US Attorney now inherits this mess.