16 years later, prosecutor awaits Sharpton apology

Newsday.com ^ | January 31, 2003 | LARRY McSHANE

[conservativecorner]

NEW YORK -- On 33 separate occasions, the Rev. Al Sharpton and two associates proclaimed that an obscure Dutchess County prosecutor had kidnapped, abused and raped a 15-year-old black girl, Tawana Brawley.

They were wrong, according to an intensive 1987 state investigation.

Sixteen years later, as Sharpton launches a quixotic campaign for the presidency, ex-prosecutor Steven Pagones wonders whether the sharp-tongued preacher who publicly flayed him will ever offer an apology.

"It's very frustrating that the public forgets what Sharpton did to Steven," says Garry Bolnick, attorney for Pagones. "We would ask Sharpton to do what's right, to come out and say, `I was wrong. ... He had nothing to do with the Tawana Brawley affair."'

Sharpton, who was forced to pay Pagones $65,000 for defamation, did not respond to requests for a response this week. But through the years, he has never backed away from his role in the Brawley case.

"Apologize for what?" he asked last year in an interview with The Associated Press. "For believing a young lady?"

Pagones watched last month when Sharpton filed papers as a Democratic candidate for the White House, a photo op that illuminated the pair's divergent paths since the racially charged case exploded.

Back then, Sharpton was derided by many as a racial provocateur. When the teenage Brawley told her story of abduction and rape by a half-dozen white law enforcers, Sharpton flew to her aid.

Lacking physical evidence or eyewitnesses, Sharpton repeatedly identified Pagones, an assistant district attorney, as Brawley's attacker. The prosecutor later recalled that the first time he'd seen Tawana Brawley, the teen was on television.

"If we're lying, sue us," Sharpton challenged Pagones. A specially impaneled grand jury, called by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, determined Brawley's story was a phony; 13 alibi witnesses testified for Pagones.

Pagones did sue, winning his $65,000 judgment against Sharpton in 1998 _ a fraction of the multimillion-dollar penalty he had sought. Both sides viewed the award as vindication, the only time they ever agreed.

The jury decision ended the legal wrangling, but the Brawley affair lingered _ even as the increasingly moderate Sharpton's political legitimacy grew.

Sharpton has survived more than Brawley, though.

[conservativecorner]

I wouldn't hold my breath if I was the prosecutor. Sharpton is an overly-stuffed bag of wind.

[Inspectorette]

Back then, Sharpton was derided by many as a racial provocateur.

Back then???? As if he isn't still???

[End Times Sentinel]

Back then, Sharpton was derided by many as a racial provocateur

 

Did I miss something???  What does he mean "Back then"???

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[eureka!]

What I find telling is the timing of this article. Why now?The Rats/Lefty Presstitutes are more than a bit concerned about Al's bid are they not? LOL. This is going to be a fun Rat primary...

[funkywbr]

Dont you get it? This news is as old as the hills and is only being put out now to destroy the Dem House Ni*** who doesn't understand who his masser "IS". BTW who was the reporter on this? John Edwards?

[WaveThatFlag]

Back then???? As if he isn't still???

Hands off Sharpton. We want him to stick around the Democrat Party race as long as possible.

[TomServo]

"For believing a young lady?"

No you race-baiting, fat-assed huckster. For propagating an unsubstantiated allegation.

[jmaroneps37]

newsday a classic rat media rag, doesn't give two shiites about the guy that sharpton maligned. They are desperately trying to dicredit him because they know that sharpton will be like a wild bull as he distroys the rat's primary. The timing of this piece is in direct response to yesterday's Quinnipiac University poll of New Jersey rat primary voters. sharpton is 3rd at 12%, cheeks gephardt is at 9, opie edwards at 7 and how wierd( I'll be like president barlett) dean is at 4. Rag newsday knows that when the fun begins, sharpton will demand that the other rats take a position on reparations, affirmative action, taxes, terrorism, crime - take your pick. However way these rats answer, they lose. If they suck up to the comrades voters in the rat primaries, they lose the general. If they give sane answers, they never get the nomination to lose in the general. Go al go!

[OldFriend]

One of the men falsely accused committed suicide.

[Athwart]

...the Brawley affair lingered _ even as the increasingly moderate Sharpton's political legitimacy grew.

Say what? His "political legitimacy grew?" Did I miss that? In whose eyes? Note to the writer: just because the mainstream media won't call a clown like this (or any leftist fool) what he is, doesn't imply an increase in legitimacy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the post. Here's A/P's version...

http://wire.ap.org/?FRONTID=NATIONAL&SLUG=SHARPTON%2dDA

---

JANUARY 31, 14:06 ET

Wronged DA Awaits Apology From Sharpton

By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — On 33 occasions, the Rev. Al Sharpton and two associates declared that a little-known prosecutor in outlying Dutchess County had kidnapped, abused and raped a 15-year-old black girl, Tawana Brawley.

They were wrong, according to an intensive 1987 state investigation.

Sixteen years later, as Sharpton launches a campaign for president, former Assistant District Attorney Steven Pagones wonders whether the sharp-tongued preacher who publicly flayed him will ever offer an apology.

``It's very frustrating that the public forgets what Sharpton did to Steven,'' said Garry Bolnick, Pagones' attorney. ``We would ask Sharpton to do what's right, to come out and say, `I was wrong. ... He had nothing to do with the Tawana Brawley affair.'''

Sharpton, who was forced to pay Pagones $65,000 for defamation, did not respond to requests for a response this week. But through the years, he has never backed away from his role in the Brawley case.

``Apologize for what?'' he asked last year in an interview with The Associated Press. ``For believing a young lady?''

Pagones watched last month when Sharpton filed papers as a Democratic candidate for the White House, a photo op that illuminated the pair's divergent paths since the racially charged case exploded.

Back then, Sharpton was derided by many as a racial provocateur. When the teenage Brawley told her story of abduction and rape by a half-dozen white law enforcement officers, Sharpton flew to her aid.

Lacking physical evidence or eyewitnesses, Sharpton repeatedly identified Pagones as Brawley's attacker. The prosecutor later recalled that the first time he had seen Tawana Brawley, she was on television.

``If we're lying, sue us,'' Sharpton challenged Pagones. A specially impaneled grand jury, called by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, determined Brawley's story was phony; 13 alibi witnesses testified for Pagones.

Pagones did sue, winning his $65,000 verdict against Sharpton in 1998 — a fraction of the multimillion-dollar penalty he had sought. Both sides viewed the award as vindication, the only time they ever agreed.

The jury decision ended the legal wrangling, but the Brawley affair lingered — even as the increasingly moderate Sharpton's political legitimacy grew.

Sharpton has survived more than Brawley, though.

He endured tax evasion charges; disclosures of his work as an FBI informant; and allegations that his rhetoric about ``white interlopers'' incited an arson attack on a white-owned Harlem business that left eight people dead.

Yet Sharpton emerged as a credible Democratic Party figure, posting decent — if losing — vote totals in primary races for the U.S. Senate and New York mayor. He became a prominent voice against Navy bombing in Vieques; he urged peaceful dissent when the city faced racially charged police shootings.

But as Sharpton soared, Pagones sank.

As far back as 1988, Pagones claimed the reverend's charges had inflicted an emotional and physical toll: insomnia, stomach ailments, anxiety attacks.

Today, the father of two is divorced and has given up his law career to work upstate as a private investigator. He spent more than $300,000 on the legal case against Sharpton and the two other Brawley advisers.

Pagones did not even collect most of his judgment from Sharpton. Instead, Sharpton friends and supporters like lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr. and businessman Percy Sutton covered the debt.

In his AP interview, Sharpton said he still believed Brawley, who never testified in court. The woman eventually left New York, changed her name and disappeared; she still owes Pagones almost $500,000 in defamation money.

After Pagones' suit went to trial, Sharpton stood outside the courthouse in Poughkeepsie to discuss his post-verdict future.

``No matter what the verdict, it will not affect one iota the principles and the future of Al Sharpton,'' he promised.

[eccentric]

This is one of those cases where "pain and suffering" costs shouldn't be capped.

[WaveThatFlag]

One of the men falsely accused committed suicide.

Hold your fire gentlemen. The other Democrats are going to do our job for us.

(And alienate a lot of minority voters in the process)

[The Electrician]

Yet Sharpton emerged as a credible Democratic Party figure, posting decent — if losing — vote totals in primary races for the U.S. Senate and New York mayor.

That he has emerged as a credible Democratic Party figure is reason enough for decent people to leave that party (that is, if there are any of them left).

[Slyfox]

"I still believe Brawley", She never testified in court, eventually left New York,
changed her name and disappeared; she still owes Pagones almost $500,000 in
defamation money.

Ya, you in the back. What is your question?

Where is Tawana?

[Space Wrangler]

And don't forget that still to this day the good Rev-uh-rund hasn't paid a dime of the judgement, choosing instead to hide his income, and do everything he can to squelch out on his responsibility to pay this man that he went on TV and accused of being a rapist. Al Sharpton is a pathetic wastoid in an expensive suit.

[MeekOneGOP]

Yeah, but did you notice that Sharpton didn't pay the judgment out of his own pocket?...

Pagones did not even collect most of his judgment from Sharpton. Instead, Sharpton friends and supporters like lawyer Johnnie Cochran Jr. and businessman Percy Sutton covered the debt.

Why am I not surprised?...

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL ! Man, that al sure can draw a crowd, huh?...

[OldFriend]

There are NO decent people in the democrat party.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, on the talk shows, he's treated as relevant, even by the conservative hosts. Personally, I wouldn't have him on my show (if I had one).