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THE MIRIAM CAREY SCANDAL
A twist of fate put reporter Garth Kant on a long and exhaustive quest for truth and justice. After covering a nearby event, Kant likely was the first reporter to arrive on the scene of a big breaking news story, the Capitol Hill shooting on Oct. 3, 2013.
What first appeared to be a terrorism threat in the nation’s capital would turn out to be the unjustifiable shooting of an unarmed, suburban mother by federal officers for the simple mistake of making a wrong turn. It then turned into a Justice Department cover-up, which Kant steadily revealed in this series of stories.
Police said a vehicle at the White House tried to ram a barricade, and, after “shots were potentially fired” officers pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase. Police would later say the driver hit an officer with her car. None of that would turn out to be true. The victim, Miriam Carey, was an unarmed, African-American, suburban mother. By the day after the shooting, Kant noticed things were not adding up. He began digging and what he eventually found was:
- Carey was shot in the back
- Officers claimed they shot her in self-defense
- Her child in the backseat was covered in glass and blood
- Carey didn’t break any laws
- Carey didn’t try to enter the White House grounds
- Carey did not ram a White House gate
- Officers did not try to prevent Carey from entering a White House guard post
- Officers tried to prevent Carey from leaving a White House guard post
- Officers gave no reason for stopping Carey
- Officers gave no reason for pursuing Carey
- Carey did not flee or speed away
- Carey did not run over an officer
- Police knew Carey was not a terrorist before they shot her
- Secret Service officers violated their use of force policy
- Police statements are missing
- Witness statements are missing
- Evidence is missing
- Police refuse to release findings justifying the shooting
Kant went through a series of steps to obtain the evidence used to make those revelations:
- He filed a FOIA request for surveillance video and the forensics report
- He visited the shooting scene and discovered at least seven surveillance cameras
- He spoke to an officer who confirmed the existence of video of the Carey shooting
- He obtained a copy of the unpublished Secret Service policy on the use of force
- After the investigation was completed he made a FOIA request for the police report and all evidence
- After that was denied he successfully appealed the FOIA request to the office of the Washington, D.C. mayor
- He discovered the police report was missing key evidence
- He made a FOIA request with the Justice Department for all evidence
- After the Justice Department stonewalled he enlisted Judicial Watch to sue the government to compel compliance
- The Justice Department agreed to comply and turned over additional evidence
Much key evidence was still missing. A federal judge has given the Justice Department until Jan. 15, 2106,
to explain why evidence is missing. Kant will then ask the judge to compel the Justice Department to turn over all remaining relevant evidence.
The officers involved in the incident were members of the U.S. Capitol Police and the Uniformed Secret Service. The investigation was done by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD.) Its report was reviewed by the office of the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., a branch of the Justice Department.
Kant first contacted police and obtained the initial report on the incident, in the form of an affidavit, and noticed disturbing discrepancies. The report gave no explanation as to why officers pursued Carey. Or why they shot her. Kant shared the evidence with legal and civil liberties experts. They found the shooting unjustified.
A former Secret Service officer called it a very dangerous incident for civil liberties. Famed civil libertarian (and Pulitzer finalist for commentary) Nat Hentoff even called it “a classic case of police out of control and, therefore, guilty of plain murder.” Former law enforcement officers told Kant the decision to shoot at a moving vehicle in a crowded public area was highly questionable.
A series of inquiries and email exchanges with the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office failed to elicit any more information. Kant contacted more than 100 members of Congress, informing them of the serious questions involved in the deadly shooting of Carey. He did not receive one response. Kant contacted more than 30 of them twice more. He received one reply from a congressional aide who said there were members of the House Homeland Security committee (which oversees the Secret Service) who were interested and asked Kant to provide them with more information. He did but never received a reply, even after making numerous inquiries.
On July 10, 2014, the Justice Department announced the completion of the investigation and said no charges would be filed against officers. Kant then made a FOIA request on Aug. 4, 2014, with MPD requesting “All materials used in the investigation into the October 3, 2013, fatal shooting of Miriam Carey, by uniformed agents of the U.S. Secret Service, and officers of the U.S. Capitol Police Department, to include the final report and findings of that investigation.” That request was denied on Oct.17, 2014.
Kant then drafted a letter of appeal to the office of Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray. Not being a legal expert, he sent copies of the letter to a number of lawyers to see if it was properly drafted. He received no response from any of the attorneys. Figuring he had nothing to lose, and with time slipping away, he submitted the appeal, anyway.
On April 4, 2015, the Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel called Kant to inform him his FOIA appeal would be granted and he could pick up the material requested from the MPD. He was told the only redactions would be the names of witnesses, out of concern for privacy.
Kant reviewed the material and wrote a five-part series on what he found. But much evidence was still missing. The report was heavily redacted. There was no video. Or photographs. Dozens of witness statements were missing, as were officer statements.
Kant had also filed a FOIA request with the Justice Department on Aug. 4, 2014, which had 20 days to respond, by law. Following months of futile inquiries, Kant was informed on March 19, 2015, that his request was waiting to be assigned and processed by a paralegal. The Justice Department said Kant was “welcome to check on the status within a few weeks.” Instead, Kant enlisted the help of government-watchdog group Judicial Watch, and, on April 14, 2015, sued the Justice Department. The Justice Department agreed to comply with the FOIA and began producing a series of documents on Sept. 9, 2015.
Kant did a three-part series on the information obtained in that FOIA. He discovered there were many more serious discrepancies between what witnesses reported and the official version of events. But, once again, the material provided was incomplete.
Kant wrote 16 investigative stories on the Carey case in 2015. He has written 36 such stories since 2013. The rest of the media ignored the case while Kant kept it alive. In light of information Kant revealed, the Washington Post and Mother Jones looked into the case more than a year after the shooting. Kant’s work garnered accolades from fellow journalists, included in the supplemental material, along with material that shows how the work caused other news organizations to write about it; material that shows how the work achieved results; and material that shows how the work engaged its readers.
MOM KILLED BY CAPITOL COPS WAS SHOT IN THE BACK
'MURDERED' MOM COVER-UP IMPLODES AS REPORT RELEASED
The federal officer who fired what may have been the shot that killed unarmed mother Miriam Carey in the nation’s capital... READ MORE
Congratulations on the scoop. I have been following your stories. You did what the rest of us should have done ... Anyway, you did great work. Not sure how much I will be able to add.
—Washington Post reporter David Montgomery,
The way you handled that story ought to be taught in journalism schools. There are still a few journalism schools, I suppose, taking their work seriously, but this ought to be part of the curriculum. I mean it. I commend you for staying on this story because if this story is not resolved in favor of the most fundamental constitutional rights, what kind of country are we? All of the evidence I’ve seen, coming from Garth Kant’s report, which seems to me very thorough and can easily be backed up, is this is a classic case of police out of control and, therefore, guilty of plain murder.
—Civil liberties expert and Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary Nat Hentoff
Garth has proven to have more character, integrity and investigative skill than any reporter I have ever encountered and, trust me, I have met many. It’s important to note, I rarely ever interact with reporters to the degree I have interacted with Garth. Unlike many media companies who simply “parroted” the official version or recklessly printed inaccuracies and misrepresentations for dissemination to the general public about the Miriam Iris Carey shooting, WND did the opposite. WND actually fulfilled its role as a media company. As a “gate-keeper,” WND began actually investigating the Miriam Iris Carey shooting because “something didn’t seem right about the government’s version of events.”
— Carey family attorney and former NYPD officer Eric Sanders
I would like to thank Garth and WND for not only staying with the story but actually fact checking and publishing their findings. My sister Miriam was publicly murdered in the broad daylight streets of Washington, DC. The diligent and relentless investigative reporting done by Garth and the WND staff gave my mother and me some solace and hope that not only justice would be served but that the public, which was so misinformed as to whom my sister was, would actually be able to know the truth of her being a law-abiding mother of a 13 month old baby, struck down in the prime of her life.
—Miriam’s sister and former NYPD sergeant Valarie Carey
FEATURED STORIES
POLICE REPORT: FEDERAL COPS CAUSED DEADLY CHASE
The deadly police chase that cost the life of unarmed, suburban mother Miriam Carey apparently was not triggered by her actions... READ MORE
ATTORNEY: POLICE MACHISMO KILLED UNARMED MOM
When the evidence in the 322-page police report obtained exclusively by WND is added up, the most basic question of all remains... READ MORE
DARK SIDE TO CAPITOL POLICE COVER-UP
The official police report into the death of Miriam Carey obtained by WND is riddled with blacked-out sections and missing information.... READ MORE
DOJ: 'NO COMMENT' ON WHY COPS KILLED MOM
No explanation given in police report or by feds.... READ MORE
'SMOKING-GUN DOCUMENTS PROVE UNARMED MOM WRONGLY KILLED'
Secret handbooks show 'cops violated their own policies'.... READ MORE
POLICE KNEW OF CHILD IN 'MURDERED MOM'S' CAR
A former member of the Secret Service Uniformed Division revealed he heard a radio transmission inform officers there was a child in the car... READ MORE
SECRET SERVICE COVERED TODDLER IN GLASS AND BLOOD
How in the world did a toddler in the backseat survive the barrage of bullets puncturing the car in the photograph above?... READ MORE
EVIDENCE: FEDS FIRED WILDLY AT UNARMED MOM
'Public was definitely endangered by their reckless actions'... READ MORE
WAS UNARMED WOMAN TRAPPED WHEN COPS SHOT HER DEAD?
Witnesses contradict feds' story after mother killed in barrage of bullets... READ MORE
WHY DOESN'T THIS BLACK LIFE MATTER?
Exclusive: Joseph Farah is outraged over 'worst example of police brutality' in America... READ MORE
YOU WANT TO RIOT? RIOT OVER THIS
Exclusive: Joseph Farah is outraged at cops' excessive use of force against black citizen... READ MORE
THE MIRIAM CAREY SCANDAL ILLUSTRATED
Exclusive: Joseph Farah sounds off on cops' scandalous shooting of D.C. mom... READ MORE
WHY I CARE ABOUT MIRIAM CAREY
Exclusive: Joseph Farah explains WND's persistence covering death of innocent woman... READ MORE
THIS BLACK WOMAN'S LIFE MATTERS, TOO
Exclusive: Joseph Farah remembers D.C. mother killed in volley of 26 bullets.... READ MORE
SO YOU WANT TO FEDERALIZE LOCAL COPS?
Exclusive: Joseph Farah exposes 'dangerous trend' giving Washington more power... READ MORE
DO INNOCENT BLACK WOMEN'S LIVES MATTER?
Exclusive: Joseph Farah notes how Sharpton-types focus only on incidents involving men... READ MORE
SECRET SERVICE COVERED TODDLER IN GLASS AND BLOOD
How in the world did a toddler in the backseat survive the barrage of bullets puncturing the car in the photograph above?... READ MORE
RELATED STORIES
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Mother Jones: “The Wrong Way: Miriam Carey drove through a White House checkpoint and died in a hail of bullets, her infant in the back seat. Was a Secret Service screwup to blame?”
“The media outlet that pursued Miriam’s story with the most zeal was WorldNetDaily (WND) ... which published more than 50 pieces about her.”
Washington Post: “How Miriam Carey’s U-turn at a White House checkpoint led to her death”
Roll Call: “Miriam Carey Shooting Provokes Lawsuit Against DOJ”
“Frustrated by the official silence, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The conservative watchdog group lodged its April 14 complaint on behalf of WorldNetDaily.com, alleging the DOJ has violated the law by stalling the conservative outlet’s Freedom of Information Act request.”
Democracy Now: “A Deadly U-Turn: Did Miriam Carey Need to Die After Wrong Car Move at White House Checkpoint?”
how the work caused other news organizations to write about it
how the work achieved results
WND successfully appealed MPD’s denial of its FOIA request to the office of the mayor of Washington, D.C.
April 20, 2015
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel In response to your appeal, the MPD advised this office earlier today that it has reevaluated its response to your request. The MPD is now reviewing responsive documents and intends to release them to you subject to appropriate redactions by April 24, 2015.
Sincerely,
Melissa C. Tucker
Associate Director Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel
Judicial Watch Files Lawsuit on behalf of WND to Obtain Documents Regarding Fatal 2013 Shooting of Miriam Carey Outside U.S. Capitol
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced it has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of WorldNetDaily.com to obtain the release of documents regarding the October 2013 shooting of Miriam Carey by Secret Service agents and U.S. Capitol Police officers (WorldNetDaily.com, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:15-cv-00549)).
Justice Department agreed to comply with FOIA
7/23/2015
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WORLDNETDAILY.COM, INC., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Defendant
Pursuant to the Court’s Minute Order on June 26, 2015, Plaintiff Worldnetdaily.com (“Worldnetdaily”) and Defendant United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) have conferred and jointly submitted this status report. The parties agree that on or before August 28, 2015, DOJ will file a status report setting forth a production schedule, for the reasons set forth below.
I pray WND stays on top of this and this fine gentleman NEVER gives up!
—J. Green
Your detailing kept me on the edge of my seat. I am left with the unsettling fear of law-enforcement actions. ... Your offering is appreciated and gives a perspective to the trial and tribulations of an actual professional journalist/reporter in action. Thank you for your perspective!!
—Bubba Euler
Special thanks for keeping the murder of Miriam Carey in the public eye. That is a story that should never be allowed to go down the memory hole.
—Darrell Deeds
Thanks to WND’s follow-up on this case, maybe the Carey family will find some measure of justice and the rest of us will find out what really happened that horrible day. I must admit I’ve had my doubts that this would ever come to a trial (civil or criminal) and I am now cautiously optimistic a trial will result...civil first, criminal later with facts uncovered in the civil case. Ms. Carey and he family deserve nothing less.
—Andrew Whitehead
Joseph Farah and WND will not shut up about this case...and for this alone they should get the Pulitzer Prize. For we must never let this be forgotten.
—William B Stoecker
Letters to the editor
MICHAEL BROWN V. MIRIAM CAREY
MICHAEL BROWN
Physique: 18-year-old man
6 ft 5 in, 292 lbs
Background: Lived in a poor neighborhood in St. Louis County, MO, with his mother until age 16, when he moved in with his father. Was living with his maternal grandmother at time of his death.
Education: Struggled academically, switching schools several times. Graduated from Normandy High School, in St. Louis Country, MO, on August 1, 2014, while still a few credits short of completing an alternative education program.
Career: Was to attend a local technical school to learn how to fix furnaces and air conditioners. Aspiring rapper.
Circumstances: Confronted by one local police officer. Shot and killed on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. Had just committed a strong-armed robbery at a convenience store. Struggled with an officer for his gun, which fired. Fled then returned to charge the officer who shot him in self defense. The autopsy proved accusations that he was shot in the back were false.
Gunshots: One officer fired 12 times, hitting Brown six times. Fatal shots were to the head and chest. Investigators concluded the witnesses who said his hands were up when he was shot were not credible. Autopsy confirmed he was charging toward the officer when he was shot.
Intoxication: A toxicology report detected marijuana in his system.
Public reaction: His death sparked more than a week of protest, riots, looting, visits and condemnation by black leaders.
Justice Department involvement: President Obama sent more than 100 FBI agents to Ferguson to investigate the shooting. The president also had the Justice Department conduct its own investigation. After five months, the Justice Department concluded there was no violation of Brown's civil rights. The investigation found the officer's version of events credible, that Brown had tried to grab his gun. The investigation also found the officer killed Brown in self-defense.
Obama comments: The president released an official White House statement that said, in part: “The death of Michael Brown is heartbreaking, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family and his community at this very difficult time. . . . The shooting incident in Ferguson, Missouri this weekend deserves a fulsome review. . . . At every step, we will work with the local investigators, who should be prepared to complete a thorough, fair investigation in their own right. I will continue to receive regular updates on this matter in the coming days. Aggressively pursuing investigations such as this is critical for preserving trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Media coverage: Cable news provided around the clock coverage of the protests, riots and investigation following the shooting. It was the lead story of every broadcast network news channel for the week of protests and when investigation results were announced.
MIRIAM CAREY
Physique: 34-year-old woman
5 ft 5 in, 138 lbs
Background: Raised with her four sisters by their mother in one of the poorest housing projects in Brooklyn, NY. Was living in the home she owned in Stamford, Conn., with her 13-month-old daughter.
Education: Associate degree from Hostos Community College. Bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College.
Career: Registered dental hygienist. Also started and ran a placement agency for dental office personnel. Aspired to become a dental hygiene instructor and author on the subject or a dentist.
Circumstances: Confronted by dozens of officers. Shot and killed on October 3, 2013, in Washington, DC. Had just made a wrong turn into a White House guard post. Immediately made a U-turn to leave. Was chased by dozens of officers and then shot at by two Secret Service agents and two Capitol Police officers. Was unarmed. Shot in the back.
Gunshots: Four officers fired at Carey 26 times, hitting her five times. Shot in the back three times, in the arm once, and in the back and side of the head once. The shot to the head was likely the fatal wound. She was sitting in her car when she was shot.
Intoxication: A toxicology report showed there were no drugs or alcohol in her system.
Public reaction: There were no protests. No black leaders spoke on her behalf or called for justice for her.
Justice Department involvement: The Justice Department ignored repeated calls for a civil rights investigation. It unsuccessfully tried to block the release of the police report. Then it covered up the results of the criminal investigation of the police. The DOJ refused to release the findings in the investigation it used to determine no criminal charges would be filed against the officers.
Obama comments: President Obama never said a single word about Carey.
Media coverage: Cable news channels covered Carey as breaking news on the day of the shooting, when it was also the lead story on every broadcast network news channel. The story disappeared from all television news coverage the next day. The disparity in news coverage is demonstrated by the number of online stories devoted to each shooting. A Google search for "Miriam Carey" returns 108,000 results. A Google search for "Michael Brown" returns 7,330,000 results. That indicates Carey got .01% of the media coverage Brown got.
Buy the Book
HEY MILWAUKEE, WHERE'S OUTRAGE FOR 'MURDERED' MOM?
Blazing riots rage in Wisconsin, but silence for woman shot in back by cops... READ MORE
