A Black Republican Attorney General Who is Not Into Blacks Is No Better Than A White One
KENTUCKY’S Attorney General Daniel Cameron is the first African-American to be elected to the office and the first Republican since 1944.
Cameron has presided over the Breonna Taylor case and the cops who raided her home and shot her will not face charges, with the exception of Sgt. Brett Hankison, who was indicted for first-degree wanton endangerment.
Who is Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron?
Daniel Jay Cameron, 34, is the first African-American attorney general of Kentucky.
He is also the first Republican to hold office since 1944.
Cameron won a scholarship in high school to attend college named in honor of Senator Mitch McConnell.
He went on to attend the University of Louisville and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science.
In 2011 he graduated from Brandeis School of Law with a Juris Doctor and shortly after got a clerkship position to serve for McConnell’s legal counsel.
Cameron ran for Attorney General in 2019 and defeated State Senator Wil Schroder in the primaries and was endorsed by President Trump.
In the general election he defeated Democratic former Attorney General Greg Stumbo and assumed office in January of this year.
What is his role in the Breonna Taylor case?
As the Attorney General of Kentucky, Cameron was presiding over the death of Breonna Taylor involving officers of the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Breonna was fatally shot by Detective Brett Hakinson, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove.
Hakinson was charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and posted a $15,000 cash bond.
Cameron brought the case to a grand jury who decided that there were no direct charges against the officers with the exception of Hankinson, who was accused of firing blindly into several apartments and recklessly endangering the lives of Breonna’s neighbors.
"Justice is not often easy," Cameron said on Wednesday at a news conference in the state capital to explain the grand jury's decision.
"It does not fit the mold of public opinion, and it does not conform to shifting standards."
Cameron also added that police had knocked on the door despite neighbors claiming that no knock was heard prior to them barging in.
In the press conference Cameron said that the grand jury found that officers who took part in the raid were ultimately "justified in their use of force."
"I know that not everyone will be satisfied with the charges announced today," Cameron said calling out activists and celebrities who have spoken against Breonna’s death.
“Specifically those who "will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case, that they know our community and the commonwealth better than we do — but they don't,” he added.
What reaction has there been to his decision?
Protests erupted all over Louisville as well as in other states after Cameron announced the grand jury’s decision.
Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Chief Rob Schroeder confirmed that two officers had been shot on Wednesday night.
Schroeder said one of the officers was alert and stable after the shootings, while the other was in surgery, but was also in stable condition.
“I am very concerned about the safety of our officers," Schroeder said.
"We have had two officers shot tonight and it's very serious. It's a dangerous condition.
"I think the safety of the officers and community we serve is utmost importance."
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