Life sentence for black teenager prompts calls for Klobuchar to end presidential bid
Questions about Amy Klobuchar's handling of a 17-year-old case when she was a prosecutor are rocking the Minnesota Democrat's presidential bid just days before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses. Before being elected to the Senate in 2006, Klobuchar was district attorney for Minnesota's Hennepin County. She sent Myon Burrell, a black teenager, to prison for life for the 2002 death of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, who was killed by a stray bullet while doing homework in her house. An Associated Press investigation published Tuesday raised questions about the integrity of the investigation and suggested Burrell could be innocent.
There was no physical evidence, such as DNA, fingerprints, or a gun, linking Burrell to the crime, and other evidence was never obtained. Police relied on testimony from those in jail who have since recanted their statements. A different man, Ike Tyson, has said that he is the man who actually pulled the trigger. In response to the story, several racial justice groups, including Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, Minneapolis NAACP, Communities United Against Police Brutality, called on Thursday for Klobuchar to suspend her campaign. "This is a situation that happens all around America. This is a situation that happens right here in Minnesota," said Leslie Redmond, president of the Minneapolis NAACP. "Young people, young adults, were given life sentences to rot away in prison. This benefits no one. However, it does benefit politicians who have used the criminal justice system to enhance their political careers."'''
The Klobuchar campaign responded to the criticism. "Senator Klobuchar has advocated for reforms to our criminal justice system over the years, including during her time as Hennepin County Attorney," the Klobuchar campaign said in a statement. "If there is new evidence in this case, it should be immediately reviewed by the court.” The Minnesota senator has seen a surge in support in recent weeks, and she sits in fifth place with 9.6% in the RealClearPolitics average of Iowa polls.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/life-sentence-for-black-teenager-prompts-calls-for-klobuchar-to-end-presidential-bid
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Amy Klobuchar touts her tough-on-crime record as a prosecutor. Questions have arisen about a case that left a teen imprisoned for life.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/elections/ct-nw-amy-klobuchar-myron-burrell-life-sentence-20200128-avszzcurqjh6plixmk7ic7iuwe-story.html