Rep. Jerrold Nadler Seeks Probe Of NYPD Conduct At Occupy Wall Street Protests

NEW YORK — A congressman is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate allegations of police misconduct in connection with the treatment of Occupy Wall Street protesters and journalists covering the demonstrations in New York City.

New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler says in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder there were "troubling reports" of possible misconduct by police.

He says there were reports of "possible unlawful surveillance" of protesters' constitutionally protected activities and excessive use of force by New York Police Department officers. He says he was "especially troubled" the NYPD "aggressively blocked journalists" from reporting the Nov. 15 eviction of protesters from a Manhattan park they were occupying.

The Department of Justice said Tuesday it will review the congressman's letter.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne says officers "accommodated lawful protest" and made arrests only after observing unlawful conduct.

 

 

Comments

[Beaugrand RTMC]

11:54 AM on 12/08/2011

It would be truly amazing if Republicans would "hitch their wagon" to OWS. That Democrats would embrace OWS is predictable, as OWS has a much larger and diverse following than Tea Party.

[bgofca]

04:00 AM on 12/08/2011

while he's investigating ny, how about oakland and davis and berkely, portland, la, etc.

[Peabodies]

08:43 PM on 12/07/2011

Thank you, Congressman Nadler!! at least one Member of Congress who is NOT asleep at the switch of the "Occupy" agitation. The people are restless ... They are showing up with NO weapons, just the power of their voice and physical action, everywhere!

[field-man]

03:19 PM on 12/07/2011

Never ceases to amaze me that Democrats would hitch their wagon to OWS

[blueagle8u]

03:40 PM on 12/07/2011

This has to do with JUSTICE! Get a grip!

[Dogger]

05:55 PM on 12/07/2011

If the cops were assaulting abortion protestors on the steps of the Supreme Court, I would be saying exactly the same thing.

[shupper]

01:24 PM on 12/07/2011

Earth to New Yorkers! NOTHING will come of this. N O T H I N G. So sorry!

[Peabodies]

08:47 PM on 12/07/2011

Where have you been, Shupper, it's happening everywhere. Three "Occupy" encampments in Washington, D.C., just this week! Come on, shupper, if you can't find them, join us!

[shupper]

10:03 PM on 12/07/2011

First of all,I'm completely support OWS. It does sound as if you know nothing of NYC politics. The NYC Police Department rules NYC.

[Martha Fair]

05:43 PM on 12/08/2011

NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this NOTHING will come of this

Isn't this the same thing you said when Obama was leading in the polls against McCain?

[maxx24710019622]

09:20 AM on 12/07/2011

i hope mr nadler needs the assistance of the nypd at some point......maybe the occupy people will come to HIS AID.............perhaps he should be investigating the impact these thugs had on the small business owners in the area.........

[blueagle8u]

03:41 PM on 12/07/2011

THUGS? You me the AMERICAN PEOPLE STANDING UP FOR JUSTICE?

[maxx24710019622]

05:17 AM on 12/08/2011

BLUEAGLE, so now standing up for justice means yelling at school children on their way to school,.and ripping out sinks in the area of you patriots????

[Dogger]

10:23 PM on 12/07/2011

Actually, a conservative reporter was assaulted by police in NY, who just watched while OWS participants came to her aid. But you might have missed that because Fox News thrives by keeping their viewers uninformed.

In contrast, one day a NY mayor will try to strips cops of pay or benefits and OWs will be there for them.

[maxx24710019622]

05:03 AM on 12/08/2011

DEAR DOGGER,WHO SAID I LISTEN TO FOX NEWS? JUST LIKE ALL U LEFTIES U KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.PROBLEM IS U DONT EVEN KNOW THE QUESTIONS

[alteredstory]

09:13 PM on 12/08/2011

Do you have a link to that story?

[JAT3]

08:54 AM on 12/07/2011

I understand the notion if people were blocking traffic so it made it hard for other people to get to work. But really! I wonder if the police itself or supervisor had a hidden ajenda! Couldn't there really be a way to let this historic situation playout to where people could protest and the police only had to watch out for those extreme persons acting out? Were the police worried that if they didnt do something to the protesters their pension funds on wallst would lose value? I mean arent the police made up of the very citizen they police? Yet they want to come in with the notion of cleaning up the park and have a permit? IMO over the years the system has been designed for this very such moments to make a bunch of rules that reduce the effectiveness of PROTEST! Those in power would sit back say "I'll do what I want. What are the people going to do? Protest in the street?" HAHA! I sic the police, dogs and waterhoses on them, arrest them where there is too many on the sidewalk or don't when I tell them too...

[Karen Levin]

08:36 AM on 12/07/2011

A representative of the United Nations is also looking into police brutality vs democratic rights in America during peaceful protest. DOJ - Where are you? You do still protect citizens, right?

[Dogger]

05:29 AM on 12/07/2011

Across the country, cops have routinely violated the same federal law that US Attorneys used to jail the cops who beat Rodney King. And he was resisting arrest after endangering the lives of others in a high-speed chase. This law applies to all public officials, including mayors & chiefs who directed police to suppress the First Amendment rights of protestors. Read the statute here: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/242.html

[cheeseheadnate]

02:36 AM on 12/07/2011

This is almost laughable ... like the US Congress has nothing better to do, like oh I don't know maybe craft balanced budget amendments or strengthen our economy by fixing the tax code etc. No the greater good for the United States is to divert the DOJ's efforts to the NYPD, for playing it smart and getting intel on the Occupy group that they were going to break up.

Now if the NYPD placed covert agitators in the crowd, to cause violence etc then they should be held accountable. But up until now I'm not hearing anything of that sort.

Just the PD there trying to learn as much as possible about the group's intentions, before rolling in there to disperse them. Not bad planning on their part.

[rydebulls]

02:33 AM on 12/07/2011

Give this guy a round of applause

[jstagynjax]

12:01 AM on 12/07/2011

I wonder how many votes he need to get re-elected this season? I'd also be curious to know if he's supported citizens in situations like these before, or investaged agencies for misconduct prior to all of this? Or, is he just pandering to the masses of $ucker$ there seem to be in New York, just so he can keep his cushy office, and publicly paid job?

[Rodger leMonde]

09:46 PM on 12/06/2011

Add in the dereliction of their other duties. In essence the city staged a counter protest bringing fear and anger, two of the ingredients in a riot.

[occupythepress]

08:56 PM on 12/06/2011

Thank you Jerrold Nadler!

[straight skinny]

05:37 PM on 12/06/2011

Nadler as Left as they come. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to have his dog impeached yet as he's tried to get others impeached with the other oddball Kucinich. A native New Yorker-Now he wants to go after New York's Finest who by and large did a Damned Good Job under the patrician and steady hand of a great Police Commissioner in Ray Kelly. Nadler should be ashamed of himself-but one good thing about this is that we Now Know the type of people in Congress that would support the OWS Protestors!

[Shibli Haddad]

05:38 PM on 12/06/2011

Fail trolls gonna FAIL.

[rydebulls]

02:34 AM on 12/07/2011

yep, trolls be gone!

[juabdib]

08:34 PM on 12/06/2011

It appears our constitution was violated numerous times by the NYPD, it would be prudent to investigate. Anything less would reek of a totalitarian or "Soviet" like regime running things. If oyu're against it, N. Korea, Iran, and Burma have a great plan for you to consider. Then again, if you like domestic fascism, check out Joe Walsh, Allen West or Peter King"s district.

[straight skinny]

09:00 PM on 12/06/2011

That's a bit over the top really. This isn't anything remotely close to what led to the Knapp Commission in 1971. Nadler would like it to be but it ain't gonna happen.

[jstagynjax]

11:58 PM on 12/06/2011

Of course it "appears" that the Constitution was violated. You had a mob of whiney, knee-jerk, biased media trying to paint the police as the bad guys, when they were doing their jobs after observing the occupiers breaking the law.