Ben Franklin famously said, "Threed people can keep a secret, if two of them are dead." That truism must have been in Stuart Taylor's subconscious, when he wrote his most-recent column on the Duke rape case:
[H]ow likely is it that the more than 40 kids ... could have maintained an airtight cover-up since March 14 of a gang rape in a small, crowded house, with not one heeding pleas by parents and lawyers to protect himself by fingering any guilty parties?
Perhaps because there was no cover-up, because there was no crime to cover-up? You can read Mr. Taylor's full column here. (Via Overlawyered)
I'm a big Stuart Taylor fan, and am also fairly skeptical about this particular rape allegation, but there's a pretty large body of evidence that sports teams and fraternities are precisely the sorts of organizations that are very good at closing ranks and protecting their own, and this particular sports team sure fits the profile.
Posted by: Ted | May 22, 2006 at 06:37 PM
"Airtight cover-up"? Whahuh?
Posted by: mythago | May 22, 2006 at 10:48 PM
I'm still wondering what Ted, of all people, would know about organizations filled with wealthy, privileged people who close ranks and cover up the evidence when they commit misconduct, and spare no expense on their legal and public relations teams to avoid being held culpable for their misdeeds.
Posted by: Aaron | May 23, 2006 at 05:23 AM
Aaron, this isn't the time or place to talk about Milberg Weiss or other big-money plaintiffs' law firms.
Posted by: Ted | May 23, 2006 at 05:45 AM
Having sued a fraternity, I don't think it is beyond the pale that an insular group of people would make a studied effort to close ranks and coordinate stories. In the case I brought, it took a couple of years of chipping away at the statements obtained initially after the injury. Time helped to diminish memories and, in a few cases, loyalties. Had I litigated and tried that case on a criminal trial schedule, I don't know that we could have gotten through their wall of silence.
Posted by: Maren Chaloupka | May 23, 2006 at 07:31 AM
This lecture by Minister Eric Muhammad Powerfully explains why there is such an urgent need for The Black Nation in America to separate from America and establish a nation for self.
All the events that have taken place in America since it was delivered bear absolute witness to the truth contained in it.
SEPARATION OR DEATH
10/23/05
THIS LECTURE IS 6.09MB IN SIZE. WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET, IT WILL TAKE ONLY SECONDS TO DOWNLOAD. WITH DIAL-UP IT COULD TAKE UP TO AN HOUR.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BEGIN DOWNLOAD.
http://www.zshare.net/download/separation-or-death-10-23-05-wma.html
MUHAMMAD’S TEMPLE # 15
ATLANTA, GA.
Posted by: NOITEMPLE15 | May 23, 2006 at 08:08 AM