Protesters want Steve Marshall to recuse himself from Hoover mall shooting cases; AG responds
Protesters Carlos Chaverst Jr. and Le'Darius Hilliard want Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to recuse himself as lead prosecutor in the Hoover mall shooting cases. They say Marshall should step aside due to similar conflicts of interest the attorney general mentioned when he informed Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr he must excuse himself from the investigations.
Chaverst and Hilliard each had photos showing them standing next to Marshall and both posted them on their Facebook pages Thursday after Marshall announced he was taking over the cases. Here's what they said:
"Due to my personal and CLOSE relationship with Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, I’m asking that he and his office recuses himself and themselves from the pending case of those involved in the shooting death of Emantic “EJ” Bradford, Jr. It should not be fair the Attorney General is prosecuting the case when he and I have a personal and CLOSE relationship. I also have copies of emails and letters sent to Steve Marshall’s office and campaign where I requested I work with his campaign on several occasions. There seems to be a conflict of interest. I’m asking that the federal government take over this case! #JusticeForEJ #NoJusticeNoPeace"
"Lets be fair ACROSS the board Due to my personal and CLOSE relationship with Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, I’m asking that he and his office recuse himself and themselves from the pending trial of those involved in the shooting death of Emantic “EJ” Bradford, Jr. It should not be fair the Attorney General is prosecuting the case when he and I have a personal and CLOSE relationship. #JusticeForEJ"
Marshall's office released the following statement when asked about Chaverst's comments and photo:
"The photos of Mr. Chaverst and Mr. Hilliard which they’ve posted to social media were taken in May of 2017 at a protest they were holding outside of the Advent Episcopal School in Birmingham. Attorney General Marshall was at the school to present an “AG Safe School” award. Chaverst and Hilliard were there to get the attention of AG Marshall and protest an ongoing investigation in Birmingham. AG Marshall politely met with the protestors and allowed them to take several photos with him before leaving. There is no “relationship” between the protesters (Charverst and Hilliard) and AG Marshall."
RELATED:
VIDEO: Marshall's news conference
VIDEO: Protesters' news conference
PDF: Danny Carr's statement after being recused
PDF: Steve Marshall's letter to Danny Carr
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