Topline
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on Tuesday flatly denied accusations that he chose to remain quiet on the details about a Black motorist’s death in state police custody because he was complicit in a cover-up, amid controversy that’s led to calls for his resignation.
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) talks to media on November 15, 2019 in New Orleans. (Photo by Jonathan … [+]
Key Facts
Edwards called any suggestions he tried to interfere with an investigation into the 2019 death of Ronald Greene “simply and categorically false,” and denied he withheld information from the public as part of a cover-up.
Edwards made few public comments about Greene between the man’s May 2019 death and May 2021, when the Associated Press published leaked body camera footage showing Louisiana state troopers beating, tasing and dragging Greene along the ground while he begged for mercy.
The governor said he was first made aware of the video in October 2020, but claimed the Justice Department told him the video should not be made public because it could impede an ongoing federal investigation into Greene’s death.
Edwards also said when he received a text message from the state police superintendent just hours after Greene’s death notifying him there was a death in police custody after a “violent, lengthy struggle,” he was not aware of Greene’s identity or any details about the case.
State police initially said Greene died in a car crash, which Edwards said were lies and appeared to amount to a cover-up, though he claimed he was unaware of the details of the case when state police made their initial statements.
Edwards said he did not publicly address the police narrative of Greene’s death because he believed the DOJ’s request to not release body camera footage also applied to how he publicly framed the case.
Crucial Quote
“I believed that they wouldn’t want me characterizing it publicly,” Edwards said of the DOJ, though he condemned troopers after the AP published body camera footage in May 2021 because “I no longer felt myself bound by those limitations.” The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes about the governor’s statements.
Chief Critic
Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother, has called on Edwards to resign, telling the AP it was “shameful” Edwards “was able to stand aside as all this unfolded and just remain mute.”
Key Background
Edwards has faced immense political pressure since the AP published a story Friday suggesting the governor chose to remain quiet despite knowing the state police account of Greene’s death was false. On Monday, Louisiana’s Republican State House speaker Clay Schexnayder said Edwards demonstrated the “highest level of deceit” by not immediately publicizing information once he learned the truth about Greene’s death, calling the governor’s decision “gross misconduct,” which is grounds for impeachment in Louisiana. It’s still unknown what initially led police to pursue Greene through rural north Louisiana, though it’s clear he didn’t die as a result of a car crash. An FBI-ordered review of Greene’s autopsy last year determined he died of a “physical struggle” among several other factors, including cocaine use.
Further Reading
‘I’m scared’: AP obtains video of deadly arrest of Black man (Associated Press)
‘Highest Level Of Deceit’: Louisiana Gov. Edwards Under Fire Over What He Knew About Death Of Black Motorist (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/02/01/louisiana-governor-denies-he-led-cover-up-in-death-of-black-motorist/