News / Politics
Prosecutor in Duke Lacrosse Rape Case Disbarred
Mike Nifong, the District Attorney of Durham County, North Carolina, was disbarred on Saturday by the North Carolina State Bar for his handling of the Duke University lacrosse rape case scandal.
The Bar found Nifong to have violated more than a dozen ethics rules including withholding DNA evidence from defense attorneys and lying to the judge as well as the state bar investigators.
In what disciplinary committee chairman F. Lane Williamson described as a “fiasco” Nifong’s motive behind withholding evidence and lying was rooted in “self-deception arising out of self-interest” for his “political ambition.”
Despite having DNA evidence that the three Duke lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting an escort-service dancer at a party in March 2006 were not involved Nifong did not share the information with the judge or defense but opted to press on with the case.
Midway through Saturday’s disciplinary hearing Nifong’s attorney announced “"We are in unanimous agreement there is no discipline short of disbarment that would be appropriate in this case, given the magnitude of the offenses we have found and the effect upon the profession and the public.”
Nifong could still be facing criminal charges from the players involved in the case.
