Klobuchar’s claims challenged:
America
Civil rights activists and legal experts challenged Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s claims that she was unaware of questionable evidence and police tactics used to send a young black teen to prison for life when she was a top Minneapolis prosecutor.
In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Klobuchar denied that she had knowledge of any evidence that would call the conviction into question. But much of what The Associated Press found while investigating the case of Myon Burrell, now 33, would have been available to her office at the time.
Burrell was accused of firing the gun the killed 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards in 2002 while she was doing homework at her dining room table in south Minneapolis.
Klobuchar, who was Hennepin County attorney at the time, has raised the case throughout her political career as an example of how she helped find justice for victims of violence.
“I didn’t know about this new evidence until I saw the report,” Klobuchar told Fox host Chris Wallace when asked about allegations the teen may have been wrongfully convicted. “I couldn’t have. I haven’t been in the office for 12 years.”
As she and other hopefuls entered the Iowa Democratic caucuses, Klobuchar said any new evidence should be brought forward and considered immediately by the courts.
Klobuchar has trailed the top tier of candidates in Iowa, but she is hoping to exceed expectations by touting her moderate record and ability to win in Republicanheavy areas.
The AP offered repeatedly to meet with Klobuchar to discuss the Burrell case, but she declined.
What her office would have known at the time of Burrell’s first trial in 2003:
The case hinged on a single eyewitness – a teen rival of Burrell’s who gave conflicting accounts of what he saw.
No gun, fingerprints or hard evidence linked Burrell to the crime.
Police video showed the lead homicide detective offering informants cash for information - even if it was hearsay.
Burrell’s co-defendants said he was not even at the scene.
The getaway driver gave a physical description and the first name of a suspect, but police did not follow up.
Alibis mentioned by Burrell in his interrogation were not questioned by police.
Officers did not pull a convenience store surveillance tape that Burrell said would have cleared him.(AP)