Steve Cohen	Nikki Tinker	Joe Towns

The front page news analysis said the U. S. Department of Justice needed to disclose the racial make-up of its workforce as well as data regarding its workplace culture and decision-making practices so Memphians could make informed decisions as to whether bias was clogging the wheels of justice, as some local minority leaders have alleged.

The essence of that question made its way into Sunday’s 9th Congressional District debate on WREG-TV Channel 3.

Otis L. Sanford, The Commercial Appeal’s opinion and editorials editor, citing the Tri-State Defender’s articles, raised that issue with U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen and two of his challengers, Atty. Nikki Tinker and state Rep. Joe Towns Jr.

“Do you think there is unfairness or has unfairness been shown in the prosecution of African-American officials in this town?” Sanford asked.

Sanford noted that the Tri-State Defender had quoted Cohen as saying that he would help expedite the newspaper’s FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to secure statistics from justice department officials.

This newspaper filed a formal request last week asking the U.S. Justice Department to disclose information related to local and national U.S. Attorney decision-making policies; hiring and promotion trends, and discrimination lawsuits and minority employee complaints.

“I was asked by the Tri-State Defender to help them with a FOIA request they had,” explained Cohen, “and we passed that on.”

Cohen said he also has had occasion to ask a representative from the Justice Department about the “touted Tennessee Waltz and what the Justice Department has done, and asked specifically about people who have not just taken bribes, but people who’ve offered bribes.”

Cohen said he’d asked former Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales

before the judiciary committee if he kept any statistics on race or political persecution.

“He said he did not,” Cohen said. The congressman added he believes individuals who offer bribes should be prosecuted alongside those who accept bribes.

“We know there are disparities in the criminal justice system. We are clear on that,” said Tinker, who said she didn’t know whether there is a problem in Memphis.

“Like Congressman Cohen, I’m very much concerned about those who offer the bribe. How come they aren’t on the front pages of the newspapers?” she asked.

This is nothing brand new, Towns followed. “African-American elected officials have been prosecuted in disproportionate rates not only in Memphis but around the country.”

In the federal bribery case against Joseph Lee, the former Memphis Light Gas and Water Division chief, federal prosecutors recently dropped the case “in the interest of justice.”

Lee had vehemently protested his innocence and claimed he was targeted because of his relationship with Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herenton.

The Memphis Urban League, IMPACT Memphis and The Commercial Appeal sponsored the debate.