years. So many people who know Boley’s past
political activities thought he might have misused his immigration
privileges during his stay in Liberia from 1979 up to the time he
became chairman for the defunct Liberia Peace Council; one of the
warrant factions that fought to oust Charles Taylor.
Later, there were speculations that the immigration
charges were intended to lead US government to Boley political
past in Liberia. This means that the U.S. Government agents would
do anything legally or illegally to get some information from
Boley about his LPC connection.
After serving the arrest and search warrants, ICE
Special Agent Matthew R. Meyer, according to Boley press
statement, slapped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists; hands behind
his back, he tightened the handcuffs such that they began to cut
into his wrists, momentarily cutting off blood circulation to his
palms and fingers (“an act of torture in effect”) while repeatedly
directing the following threatening and menacing comments at Boley:
“You were with the LPC, uh. Bad things happened,
uh. My government is interested. If you want to talk about that,
we can ask the judge to drop these charges (pointing to the
document containing the Criminal Compliant he handed Boley a few
minutes prior to putting the handcuffs on his wrists). It’s up to
you.”
Can ICE special agent, Matthew Myer’s method of
interrogation (seeking confession on issue for which Boley was not
arrested) be attributed to
Contradiction/Conspiracy?
“Speculations abound as to individuals and
organizations responsible for my arrest,” said Boley in a recently
published press statement. Boley believes Human Rights groups, the
government of Liberia, are among those named. He said one must,
however, deal with facts rather than “hearsay,” though recent
slanderous comments, on Minnesota Public Radio 17th
November 2006, by Jennifer Presholdt, Deputy Director of the
Minnesota Advocates Human for Rights, Implementing Partner of the
Truth and Reconciliation and Commission in Liberia, leaves one to
wonder as to the validity of these speculations. “I choose to deal
with the facts at hand devoid of speculations,” Boley said in his
press statement.
Boley dismissed Jennifer Presholdt’s remarks on
Minnesota Public Radio that he was in custody in the United States
for human rights-related crimes in Liberia, as purely symptomatic
of her criminal mindset that, regrettably would discredit the
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights group. In the words of
George Boley, “If these people are supposed to be making
recommendations to the U.S. Government and the TRC; and without
taking statement of facts, they already know who are guilty of war
crimes in Liberia, how credible are they?”
After three months of legal proceedings by the
United States attorney for Western District of New York, the court
ruled: Pursuant to the rule 48 (a) of the Federal Rules of
criminal procedure and by leave of Court endorsed hereon, the
United States attorney for Western District of New York hereby
dismisses complaint 06-MJ-597 against George Boley, defendant.
Rule 48 (a) states: The government may, with
leave of court, dismiss an indictment, information, or complaint.
The government may not dismiss the prosecution during trial
without the defendant's consent.
In keeping with rule 48 (a) Federal Rules of
criminal procedure, the charges were dismissed because they
were nothing but conjecture and supposition,
without an iota of truth as per the failure of the accusers to
present evidence to substantiate their claims.
But the battle continues as Boley goes after
some individuals, who according to him damaged his reputation
either by defamation or libel. Boley has contacted Kerri Miller of
the Minnesota Public Radio, who hosted the program on
17thNovember 2006 on which Jerome
Verdier, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation commission of
Liberia; and, Jennifer Prestholdt, Deputy Director of the
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights were guests, to correct “this
seemingly deliberate campaign of disinformation by Ms. Prestholdt.”
But the radio host has not done so. Jennifer Prestholdt has yet to
retract her interview, according to George Boley.
The question many legal analysts and those in the
media law and ethics want answered is did Jennifer Prestholdt made
these aforementioned comments as claimed by George Boley?
(Jennifer Prestholdt remarks on Minnesota Public Radio that he was
in custody in the United States for human rights-related crimes in
Liberia.) Did
Kerri Miller of
the Minnesota Public Radio contact Boley to get his side of the
story? If Jennifer
Prestholdt made these utterances on radio and other publication
then we are talking Libel and defamation:
Libel: "a publication without justification or
lawful excuse which is calculated to injure the reputation of
another by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule."
No. The law presumes
that some damage will flow from the publication of a libel.
No. The law presumes in
the plaintiff's favor that the statement is false, unless and
until the defendant proves the contrary.
SLANDER - A false defamation (expressed in spoken
words, signs, or gestures) which injures the character or
reputation of the person defamed; distinguished from libel.
The defaming of a man in his reputation by speaking or writing
words which affect his life, office, or trade, or which tend to
his loss of preferment in marriage or service, or in his
inheritance.
